NURBURGRING, GERMANY, SEPT 19, 2009 - Frenchman Jonathan Cochet was back into the Renault F1 (R28) during the World Series By Renault for a great Roadshow in front of 150 000 spectators on the Grand Prix circuit in north-west Germany.

This place has a lot of history as they’ve been racing at the old Nurburgring since the 1920s. The new version may not be a match for the demands of its bigger brother, but it’s still a neat little track with some quick corners and good viewing opportunities for the spectators.

As usual there was plenty to keep the fans entertained this weekend with Formula Renault and the World Series Championships. The highlight for many of the fans though was seeing the R28 put through its paces with two demonstrations on Saturday and two more on Sunday.

Jonathan Cochet made his return to the cockpit for a one-off appearance this weekend, resuming his role from last year. He was delighted to be back in the car and had a big smile on his face when he climbed out of the car. “I’d forgotten how good an F1 cars feels,” he said. “It’s nice to have so much power under your foot!”

He may not have driven an F1 car for the best part of a year, but Jonathan had lost none of his speed. After each demo he completed some donuts in front of the main grandstand on the start-finish straight, which raised a big cheer from the crowd each time. Jonathan even managed to perfect the one-handed donut - something he probably learnt from Fernando!

Below are some photos from the weekend:
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SILVERTSONE, UK, AUGUST 16, 2009 - The Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo series contested its 10th, 11th and 12th rounds on the British circuit, welcoming Autovitesse’s Jonathan Cochet and Alexander Frei as well as Reiter Engineering’s Peter Kox and Marc A. Hayek onto the top step of the podium for their maiden Super Trofeo victories.

Qualifying
Petri Corse’s Fabio Babini secured his second pole position of the season at Silverstone, having lapped the track in 1:23.150 during the 30-minute session. Kox completed a flying lap in the final 30 seconds to put the #24 Reiter Engineering Super Trofeo race car on the front row of the grid, while Cochet set the third fastest lap in the #11 Autovitesse car.

Round 12
Pole-sitter Kox took the lead at the start of round 12, with Babini chasing hard in second place. Behind, Giorgio Bartocci passed Frei for third, while Bellini charged after fifth-place man Hérve Leimer, putting pressure on the Swiss driver.

With the pit window open, Frei handed over the fourth-placed #11 Super Trofeo race car to Cochet, who began charging after Rossetto, now behind-the-wheel of the #22. Cochet soon passed Rossetto before catching Kox’s team-mate Hayek and passing for the lead with four laps to go.

With less than three minutes left on the clock, Maddalena in the #6 Petri Corse, went straight on at Becketts, allowing Jarek Janiš through for fourth and Bellini for fifth. At the front of the field, Cochet charged on to secure the win from Hayek in second with Rossetto taking third.

“I was so motivated for this race,” said Cochet. “Alex [Frei] did a good job and gave me the car in perfect condition. I was on maximum attack and got the lead, but kept pushing as the car felt so good and you never know what might happen in the last few laps. I’m very happy to get our first win in the Super Trofeo, and I like Silverstone even more now!”

ADRIA, ITALY, MAY 20, 2009 - A busy weekend for Jonathan Cochet and Alexander Frei on Adria Raceway. Debut for the Blancpain Lamborghini Super Trofeo on one side, and on the other side, the gt3 team has changed back to Michelin tires after the race at Silverstone.

Blancpain Lamborghini Super Trofeo: 15 cars - strong drivers - good to see the“ Taurus“ back on track! And good to see Alexander Frei and Jonathan Cochet back on the podium! The two drivers finished the second race in 2nd place, just behind Babini/Rossetto. Thanks to this result, Alexander had the pleasure to start the 3rd race from the first row.

More or less disappointing races in fia gt3: Within the final laps of the first race, Jonathan had to abandon due to braking problems. Anyway the two drivers were classified in final 17th position.

The 2nd race was scheduled as a night race. Departure at 10:30 pm. An unlucky contact during the first laps, with some implications on the car has brought Jonathan way back in the field. Difficult for Alexander to backup. But at the end of a thrilling race it was 14th position in final classification.

Click here to see the gallery.

SILVERSTONE, ENGLAND, MAY 5, 2009 - After one year off the racetrack, the “magic word” was reorientation. 37 entrants, 12 different brands and due to technical regulations very similar cars, this was the initial situation for the first round at Silverstone (UK). Already practice sessions have shown how close the lap times would be: 10 cars within one second - not uncommon in FIA GT3 European Championship!

Reiter Engineering is running two Lamborghini Gallardo this year. Our N° 30 with Jonathan Cochet and Alexander Frei behind the steering wheel.

Klaus Ludwig and Albert von Thurn und Taxis are going to share the N° 31 car.

The team could be more or less satisfied with the results, even though we were not able to score points within the first racing weekend.

On Saturday in the first race, Alexander and Jonathan finished 18 th. In the second race on Sunday it was final position 24.

Winner in both races was the Morgan Aero Super Sport.

]]> http://www.jonathancochet.net/2009/05/05/silverstone-fia-gt3/feed/ http://www.jonathancochet.net/2007/08/21/1000km-spa-francorchamps/ http://www.jonathancochet.net/2007/08/21/1000km-spa-francorchamps/#comments Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:10:50 +0000 admin http://jonathancochet.net/blog/?p=1

1000 km de Spa LMES

Après la course du Nürburgring, l‘équipe Courage avait beaucoup travaillé dans les ateliers au Mans. Les deux tests en fin Juillet et début Août étaient très promettant et le team est parti pour la course traditionnelle aux Ardennes avec beaucoup de motivation.

Comme d‘habitude les essais libres étaient partagé par Alexander et Jonathan. Il fallait trouver le bon set-up de la voiture. L‘équipe peut-être fier de notre N°12 car Jonathan Cochet a réussi la troisième temps au troisième séance d‘essais. Avec 2‘05‘‘2 min il s‘est placé directement derrière les deux Peugeots officielles.

Qualifying:

20 minutes de qualifying pour les pilotes des catégories LMP 1 et LMP 2 suivit par 20 minutes pour les pilotes des catégories GT 1 et GT 2.

Après 10 minutes, Jonathan est parti des stands pour lancer ses tours de chrono. Malheureusement il était gêné au début mais malgré tout il s‘est placé dans la 3è ligne de la grille de départ.
Avec un temps de 2‘04‘‘836 min. il est 6è seulement 3/100e derrière la Pescarolo de Boullion/Collard.

Jean-Marc Gounon avec la N° 13 était 8è.

Poleposition pour le Team Peugeot Total en 2‘00‘‘1 min.

La course:

Jonathan Cochet était extrêmement motivé de doubler la Pescarolo à côté de lui au départ de la course. Mais la distance jusqu‘à l‘épingle de La Source est très court. Au freinage un peu trop tard, il a touche l‘arrière de la Lola Charouz. Les deux voitures sont capable de rentrer au stand mais quand Jonathan reprends la route, il est 7 tours derrière le leader. Le choc semblait d‘être plus grave - après seulement quelques tours, Jonathan a du rentrer de nouveau au stand avec une suspension cassé, certainement lié à l‘accident au départ de la course.
A ce moment, le team avait décidé de réparer la voiture. L équipe va utiliser la fin de course comme une séance d essais.
Cette fois c‘est Alexander qui s‘est mis derrière le volant. Mais après 15 tours la Courage N°12 restait immobilisé dans le stand avec un problème d‘embrayage.

„Shit happens“ dis Alexander et on voit bien sa déception.
„Mais je dois quand-même dire que nous avons trouvé un très bon set up et la voiture était très bien ce matin au warm-up. Une fois de plus nous avons démontré le potentiel de la LC 70 mais tous qu‘il faut faire maintenant c‘est tester, tester et encore une fois tester…“

Feli Frei
www.alexanderfrei.ch

Nous n‘avons pris aucun risque“ dit Alexander, „ soit douzième.. soit dixième..c‘est une course de 24 heures avec une forte chance d‘avoir des conditions difficile. Nous avons plutôt travaillés sur le set- up pendant ces deux jours.“

Samedi, 16. Juin 2007: La course (piste sèche au départ)

54 des 55 voitures se retrouvaient sur la grille de la 75. édition des
24 heures du Mans. Toute responsabilité était dans les mains de Jonathan, derrière le volant de la N°12 au départ. Aucun problème en passant les chicanes dans le trafic..sain et sauf il termine son premier tour en 14è position.
Vers 16 heures: pluie entre les chicanes et Arnage…. Faut-il changer les pneus? Ils étaient prêt. Mais il y a toujours des endroits sec sur la piste, une situation de façon exemplaire pour le circuit des 24 heures.
Entre 16 et 19 heures on avait trois phases de safety car, donc deux en raison de pluie et une suite à l‘accident de l‘Audi n°3. Jonathan n‘a pas changé les pneus - une décision stratégique et importante. Bruno lui aussi est resté sur les pneus sec. Quand il a pris le volant, on à commencé avec les triple relais, dit 3 fois 50 minutes.
Vers 19 heures, dernière rendez-vous avec le soleil avant la tombée de la nuit. Pas le moindre problème sur la voiture quand Alex part pour le première des trois relais à 20 heures.
Lors d‘une contrôle d‘un capteur d‘essence, l‘ ingénieur de la Courage N°13 a décidé de changer le set-up (version piste sèche) sur sa voiture. Quand la N°12 restait en réglage pluie.

„ La voiture est peut-être un poil plus difficile à conduire, mais elle est tout à fait roulable. Le temps qu‘on perd dans le stand est trop important.“

Une autre décision stratégique qui s‘est démontré la bonne. Jusqu‘à
1 heure le matin la Courage N°12 s‘est retrouvé entre 6è et 8è position en classement général. Elle était également la voiture avec le plus petit nombre d‘arrêts au stand.
L‘espérance justifié de finir dans les dix premiers était détruit immédiatement vers 2 heures le matin, quand la voiture est rentré au stand avec une pompe à huile cassée. Et parce-que les températures ont commencé à monter, on a aussi changé les échangeurs en prévention.
Après plus d‘une heure de travail (le pauvre Bruno Besson dans la voiture..)
La N°12 est reparti avec un retard de 31 tours. Il faut savoir que c‘est pas facile pour un pilote de se remettre „dans le bain“ et surtout la nuit, mais Bruno a bien réussi.
La température du moteur restait haut mais stable - mais la motivation dans le team est tombée par terre et quand à 5:45 heures un problème de moteur mis fin à la course de la Courage N°13 avec Jean-Marc Gounon, Stefan Johannsson et Guillaume Moreau, la déception était énorme.
Alexander accomplit trois relais sans problème, quand une crevaison - probablement causé par quelques débris sur la piste - était la raison d‘un nouveau arrêt imprévu. Env. 20 minutes pour changement des pièces de carrosserie.
Jonathan avait repris le volant, la voiture était bien, il était bien et ses chronos aussi. Dans la 19. heure il a tourné à 3.34.4 min. mieux qu‘en qualif! La motivation était de retour chez les mécanos mais aussi chez les pilotes. Vers midi-trente Bruno rendait la voiture pour la dernière fois à Alexander. Et quelle surprise, typique pour cette course folle, la pluie s‘est mis en rendez-vous pour le final. A trois tours de l‘arrivé, le safety car s‘est retiré pour une seule raison: Jamais dans l‘histoire des 24 heures du Mans le drapeau à damiers est descendu sous neutralisation!

Classement final:

1. Audi Sport North America, Audi R10 TDI Biela, Pirro, Werner
2. Team Peugeot Total, Peugeot 908 Hdi Lamy, Sarrazin, Bourdais
3. Pescarolo Sport, Pescarolo/Judd Collard, Boullion, Dumas

26. Courage Compétition, Courage LC70 Frei, Cochet, Besson

Facts:

9è des LMP 1
tours accomplit: 305 (retard sur vainqueur 65 tours)
distance accomplit: 4‘156 km
Top speed: 317 km/h
arrêts au stand: 25

spectateurs sur lieu: 250‘920 !
(source: ACO)

FELI FREY

Both programs were announced today by team owner, Yves Courage, at a press event held at his Le Mans workshop. It was also announced that Alexander Frei will assume management responsibilities for his program with Cochet. Frei will be responsible for all key decisions relating to testing, chassis development, driving assignments and other operational issues during the season. For 2007, both Courage Competition LMP1 cars will feature 3.6 L turbocharged AER engines, Michelin tires and Xtrac gearboxes.

Cochet recently completed initial testing of the new car. “We have a lot of work to do since 60% of the car is new from last year,” said Cochet. “Because of this, we will work first on developing its reliability. We already know that the car can be quite fast and I am sure we will find the speed again this year. Both Alexander and I have a lot of experience in working with Courage. This will definitely help both programs as we develop the car together.”

“We know it will be hard competing against some of the other factory LMP1 efforts at Le Mans, but I think we will have a very strong package. I am looking forward to showing what we can do.”

In addition to his new Le Mans Endurance Series program with Frei, Cochet will once again drive this year in the Renault Formula 1 Roadshow. He is all set to pilot Fernando Alonso’s 2006 World Championship winning Renault R26 Formula 1 car in demonstration runs during World Series Renault events throughout Europe, exposing fans to the stunning performance of a modern Formula 1 car. Cochet says, “The time I spend driving the Renault R26 Formula 1 car can only help when it comes to our LMS program, so I am very happy to have a full season of driving ahead of me in top level equipment.”

“The circuit under normal conditions is slippery ” said Cochet, “also the rain made this condition even worse. But the event was really, really cool anyway! There were so many people there from the Renault F1 engine factory in Viry-Châtillon cheering. Many of them never actually get to see the car run during the season, so it was a real privilege to demonstrate to them the result of all their hard work, even if the circuit and conditions didn’t really allow me to push too hard. ”

In addition to the R25 demonstration, Cochet gave numerous rides to Renault employees and media members on Friday in a race-prepared Renault Sport Mégane Trophy car. The vehicle had a special seat added to accommodate the fortunate passengers who got to experience both the high performance of the car and the new circuit for themselves for three high-speed laps with Cochet personally behind the wheel.

Renault F1 has requested Cochet’s services again for 2007 and he is eager to extend his role as driver for the Renault F1 Roadshow. As he did this year he will once again pilot the previous season’s World Championship winning car, only this time the car will be the Renault R26, which was driven to the 2006 Formula 1 title by Fernando Alonso. Cochet says, “I want to thank everyone at Renault F1 and the F1 Roadshow crew for providing me the honor of driving the world’s fastest race car in front of so many enthusiastic fans in 2006. I am very much looking forward to doing this again in 2007. I can’t wait to compare the R25 to the R26 to feel the difference between the two.”

“The performance of this car compared to the one I drove for Prost Grand Prix only five years ago is very different and much faster,” said Cochet. “Every year the development of these cars makes them faster and faster. Five years is a long time between test-drives. I was amazed at the increase in performance achieved during that time. Of course this car was the fastest of all of the F1 cars last year too, which probably also helped make such a big impression on me. The traction control, in particular, was amazing – very highly developed - but the V-10 engine, which last year produced around 900 horsepower also impressed me a lot with its power. You change gears and the car just keeps pulling like there’s no difference. These cars are in a completely different world from anything else I’ve ever driven.”

Cochet’s next appointment with the Renault R25 is scheduled to be on July 15 - 16 at Misano, Italy. Until then he will continue competing for Tuttle Team Racing with BAM! in the Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve. He has been hired by co-driver and team owner, Brian Tuttle in his quest to win the Jim Trueman award for the highest placing, non-professional driver in the award point standings in the Daytona Prototype class. The team is the only one in the series utilizing two cars during official practice to allow both Cochet and Tuttle maximum time on the track.

“I really enjoy racing in the U.S.,” says Cochet. “The Rolex Series is very competitive with many good drivers and all the cars are very equal. I felt that competing in this series this year in the U.S. would let me learn a lot of the circuits and hopefully give me a chance during the season to show everyone what I’m capable of.” Cochet says he is also hopeful of competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, but has yet to finalize a program for the famed endurance race.