Max Defourny leads the way in the return to action for the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0

This Sunday, the 2016 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 season got underway with the first day of collective testing at the Motorland Aragón circuit. 2015 Formula Renault 2.0 NEC rookie of the year, Max Defourny (R-ace GP) posted the best time of 1:54.751. The Belgian driver was followed by Dorian Boccolacci (Tech 1 Racing) and Sahara Force India Academy driver, Jehan Daruvala (Josef Kaufmann Racing). One week after his vctory in the New Zealand Grand Prix, Lando Norris (Josef Kaufmann Racing) led the way among the rookies ahead of Sacha Fenestraz (Tech 1 Racing) and Julien Falchero (R-ace GP).

Sunny skies over the Motorland Aragón circuit welcomed the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 competitors as they began their preparations for the 2016 season. 25 drivers representing 15 nationalities from nine different teams were present at the track that will host the opening round of the year.

Max Defourny set the pace in the morning session with a best time of 1:54.751. The Belgian driver led from rookie drivers Lando Norris and Sacha Fenestraz while Darius Oskoui (AVF) and Hugo de Sadeleer (Tech 1 Racing) rounded out the top five. Defourny’s best time held up in the afternoon session that saw par Dorian Boccolacci lead from Jehan Daruvala, Lando Norris, Julien Falchero and Harrison Scott (AVF).

Max Defourny (R-ace GP): “We did some work this winter and we’ve come here confident and well prepared. Today’s programme was to run correctly with the morning reserved for getting back into the groove and an afternoon working thoroughly without switching to new tyres. The gap this morning has to be put into perspective. This season, the goal is to achieve the double with the titles in the Eurocup and NEC. I am confident, as long as it goes like this.”

Lando Norris (Josef Kaufmann Racing): “Overall it was a good day. The first aim was to get used again to the Formula Renault 2.0. Obviously it is always different to compare with other formula cars despite their similar performance level. We were able to test a lot of things, while also saving new tyres. That is why the gap to Max was quite big this morning. It is hard to know where we are speed-wise, and we won’t really know until the opening qualifying session of the year. This year the goal is to win. It will be a tough season and we’ll have to work hard, but the team has the needed resources to win. For now, our pace is quite good, so we should at least be in the top five.”

Gabriele Rosei (Cram Motorsport Team Manager): “We have been loyal to the Formula Renault 2.0 since we ran Enrique Bernoldi in the final meeting of the 1995 season. We won it before going on to clinch several titles, most notably with Felipe Massa, José Maria Lopez and Pastor Maldonado.

Beginning in 2012 we focused our attention on the ALPS and it is with great pleasure that we return to the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, which is an incredibly competitive category and has the support of a group having the scope of Renault. The level is so high that we no longer count just how many drivers have shown their talent after moving on.

At Motorland Aragón we’re entering David Richert and the runner-up in the F4 Sudamericana, Rodrigo Pflucker, who is just now discovering the car and the objective will be to progress as quickly as possible with method to put in the miles to feel the grip and get a good understanding of the car before switching to new tyres.”

 

Entry List

No. 1, Jehan Daruvala, IND, Josef Kaufmann Racing

No. 2, Lando Norris*, GBR, Josef Kaufmann Racing

No. 3, Robert Shwartzman*, RUS, Josef Kaufmann Racing

No. 5, Vasily Romanov, RUS, Fortec Motorsports

No. 6, Bruno Baptista, BRA, Fortec Motorsports

No. 7, Nikita Troitskiy, RUS, Fortec Motorsports

No. 9, Dorian Boccolacci, FRA, Tech 1 Racing

No. 10, Hugo De Sadeleer, SUI, Tech 1 Racing

No. 11, Sacha Fenestraz*, FRA, Tech 1 Racing

No. 12, Gabriel Aubry*, FRA, Tech 1 Racing

No. 14, Will Palmer*, GBR, R-ace GP

No. 16, Julien Falchero*, FRA, R-ace GP

No. 17, Alexey Korneev, RUS, J .D. Motorsport

No. 18, James Allen, AUS, J .D. Motorsport

No. 21, Henrique Chaves, POR, AVF by Adrian Valles

No. 22, Harrison Scott, GBR, AVF by Adrian Valles

No. 23, Darius Oskoui, SUI, AVF by Adrian Valles

No. 24, Nerses Isaakyan*, RUS, AVF by Adrian Valles

No. 30, Rodrigo Pflucker*, PER, Cram Motorsport

No. 31, David Richert, CAN, Cram Motorsport

No. 33, Max Defourny, BEL, R-ace GP

No. 35, Alex Perullo*, ITA, Technorace

No. 38, David Porcelli*, USA, MGR Motorsport

No. 42, Julia Pankiewicz*, POL, AVF by Adrian Valles

No. 62, Ferdinand Habsburg, Fortec Motorsports

 

• Rookie