Le Mans 2006 - Maldonado spoils French party.

Sunday, 1st October 2006

Pastor Maldonado put the disappointment of retiring in the first race behind him with an important victory in round 15 of the World Series by Renault at Le Mans, the Venezuelan becoming the latest driver to move within striking distance of the championship lead.

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Maldonado though was the clear winner, crossing the line an unprecedented 17 seconds up on Gommendy, the Draco driver receiving a further point for fastest lap to put him well in the title fight with only two races of the championship at Barcelona remaining.

"We gambled by choosing a dry set-up," he said. "It was difficult to stay on the track on the last few laps. We had a very good pit-stop and the car was very quick at the end of the race."

Gommendy held off the close attentions of Garcia to pull out four seconds by the chequered flag, the Frenchman doing a superb job for Pons Racing on his series comeback, while the ever consistent Garcia will also be pleased to have recorded another podium having struggled over the weekend up to that point.

Tech 1 Racing are proving they are becoming an increasing force in their rookie season, with Fukuda matching their best result from Donington of fourth place, the Japanese driver having made up 17 places to get there.

Valsecchi was another driver who fought against a lowly starting position to fly in the race, the Italian passing Miguez for fifth place with two laps remaining, having started way back in 26th place.

Miguez was a frustrated sixth having run as high as fourth, ahead of Pilet, who made it a great day for Tech 1 in seventh place. Jouanny managed his best result of the season in eighth, ahead of compatriot Salignon, the four French drivers in the field impressing their home fans by all getting into the top ten. Kane ended a promising but ultimately unfulfilling weekend in tenth place and with a single point.

In the championship standings, there have been big changes following the decision to scrap the results from the first race of the season at Zolder as a result of protests made by Eurointernational and Draco Multiracing, something
that has shaken up the leading championship order up significantly.

As a result, Soucek remains in the lead, three points
ahead of Maldonado, while Danielsson and Garcia are the biggest losers from the late change, dropping eight and twelve points respectively to be tied third overall, nine points off the lead.