THP Spider Cup: French soccer star Fabien BARTHEZ joins the fun
Following the opening round which formed part of the Le Mans Series bill at Monza, Pau is the second port of call for the 2008 THP Spider Cup which features a calendar of eight meetings across Europe.
The two races of the first round saw the victory rostrum monopolised by outgoing champion Dino Lunardi who put in a guest appearance to validate the technical evolutions he helped define during the winter with Peugeot Sport. As winner of last year's series, his reward was a full day at the wheel of the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP at Le Castellet, France, last December.
The scrap for the same prize between this year's proponents has already produced some memorable clashes, with Briton Simon Moulton and France's Julien Beltoise, Marcel Sciabbarrasi, Grégory Guilvert, Gaël Castelli – the youngest driver on the grid – and Grégory Guilvert all in particularly incisive form in Italy.
The consistency of Moulton and Beltoise has seen them emerge at the top of the provisional standings, split by a single point. Pau is generall the scene of some drama-packed racing and experience can often be decisive. Julien Briché, who will be making his return to the Spider Cup at Pau, has already proved himself to be one of the most adept drivers through the French city's streets after winning both of last year's races here.
Returning, too, are Germany's Oliver Freymuth and Frenchman Benoît Lison. The only Pau-based driver present is Mike Parisy, while Alexandre Albouy and Patrice Chaudouin will be making their Spider Cup debut in Pau, as will former French international soccer star Fabien Barthez.
After a first taste of racing earlier this year at Nogaro, the 1998 World Cup-winning goalkeeper has been bitten by the bug and hasn't hesitated to tackle one of the sport's biggest challenges by taking part in the Grand Prix de Pau in the N°11 Spider THP.
2008 THP Spider Cup standings (before Pau): 1, S. Moulton (41 points). 2, J. Beltoise (40). 3, M. Sciabbarrasi and G. Castelli (24). 5, S. Dhouailly (18). 6, G. Guilvert (17). 7, M. Broggi (13). 8 D. Pouget (9). 9, J-C. Miginiac (8). 10, A. Rambure (7). Etc.