Robert Shwartzman Wins at the Nürburgring and Takes the Series Lead
Starting from pole position, Robert Shwartzman (R-ace GP) won race one of the Formula Renault Eurocup at the Nürburgring. The Russian was followed by team mate Max Defourny (R-ace GP) and Sacha Fenestraz (Josef Kaufmann Racing). With this fourth win of the season, the SMP Racing protégé retakes the lead in the general classification ahead of Will Palmer (R-ace GP), who finished eighth today. Daniel Ticktum (Arden Motorsport) won the rookie division in crossing the finish line in fourth place.
This morning the first qualifying session turned to the advantage of Robert Shwartzman. Running in Group B, the Russian quickly beat the benchmark time set by Max Defourny to clinch his first pole position since Pau. With a lap of 1:54.750, Robert Shwartzman started from pole ahead of Max Defourny, Daniel Ticktum, Sacha Fenestraz and Max Fewtrell (Tech 1 Racing). Championship leader, Will Palmer started tenth on the grid.
The second qualifying session determined the starting grid for race two. Robert Shwartzman was leading in the first group on track before his best lap was disallowed for causing a red flag. In Group A, Sacha Fenestraz clocked a lap in 1:54.741 to take the pole. Sunday he will line-up ahead of Daniel Ticktum, Yifei Ye (Josef Kaufmann Racing), Robert Shwartzman and Max Defourny.
When the lights went out, Robert Shwartzman held on to the lead ahead of Max Defourny who was under pressure from Daniel Ticktum before the Brit was surprised by Sacha Fenestraz on lap one.
While the leading duo exchanged fastest laps as Sacha Fenestraz looked on, Max Fewtrell tried to get the better of Daniel Ticktum. The Renault Sport Academy driver was overtaken in the wake by Henrique Chaves (AVF by Adrián Vallés), who started eighth on the grid.
In the lead, Robert Shwartzman didn’t waver to take the victory ahead of Max Defourny. Sacha Fenestraz completed the podium ahead of Red Bull Junior Team rookie Daniel Ticktum. Henrique Chaves was fifth, followed by Max Fewtrell, Yifei Ye, Will Palmer, Gabriel Aubry (Tech 1 Racing) and Zane Goddard (Arden Motorsport).
Robert Shwartzman (R-ace GP): “It’s great to back on the top step of the podium and I couldn’t be happier. Our pace in the collective tests wasn’t terrific, but we turned it around in qualifying. The race was a bit tough as Max was pouring on the pressure and made me keep looking into my mirrors. The track conditions changed a lot and I had to manage over-steer in final laps. Now it is up to me to stay on top of the general classification, but I know just how fast my rivals are. They are not going to give up until the last race!”
Max Defourny (R-ace GP): “I am happy with the points I picked up, but I am not here to finish second! Today, we had the speed to win. Qualifying went well, but I was in the first group in Q1. In the race, I was able to pressure Robert for a long time even though it is hard to follow another car closely at the Nürburgring. The tyre degradation was also an important factor. The result is not completely satisfying, so I will re-enter the battle tomorrow despite a somewhat disappointing Q2.”
Sacha Fenestraz (Josef Kaufmann Racing): “This time, I didn’t jump the start like I did at the Hungaroring! It was a good race. I overtook Daniel on lap one, but then it was difficult to catch the leaders. So, I decided to take care of the car and settle for third place. We did a good job in getting the pole in Q2. I am looking forward to tomorrow to go for the win and catch up to the leaders in the general classification.”
Daniel Ticktum (Arden Motorsport): “I had no grip in the first three laps. It was somewhat unusual, considering I got an excellent start before I had to slow in the first series of corners to avoid under-steer. A little later, Sacha got passed me on the outside of T11. He made a very nice move. Max Fewtrell caught up to me at half-distance. We both locked up the wheels heading into the chicane. It was touch-and-go, and I preferred to cut the corner to avoid the curbs and all the collateral damage to my car, but Max was too far behind for me to wait for him. I received a five-second penalty for this, which I was expecting.”
Qualifying 1
Group A
1st – No. 9, Max Defourny, BEL, R-ace GP, 1:55.463
2nd – No. 11, Sacha Fenestraz, FRA, Josef Kaufmann Racing, 1:55.491
3rd – No. 1, Yifei Ye*, CHN, Josef Kaufmann Racing, 1:55.761
4th – No. 13, Henrique Chaves, POR, AVF by Adrián Vallés, 1:55.903
5th – No. 8, Will Palmer, GBR, R-ace GP, 1:55.998
6th – No. 93, Zane Goddard*, AUS, Arden Motorsport, 1:56.114
7th – No. 23, Alexander Vartanyan, RUS, JD Motorsport, 1:56.190
8th – No. 17, Alex Peroni, AUS, Fortec Motorsports, 1:56.316
9th – No. 18, Alexey Korneev, RUS, Fortec Motorsports, 1:56.378
10th – No. 12, Raul Guzman*, MEX, R-ace GP, 1:56.563
11th – No. 40, Charles Milesi*, FRA, R-ace GP, 1:56.751
12th – No. 26, Presley Martono*, IND, Mark Burdett Motorsport, 1:56.864
13th – No. 15, Axel Matus*, MEX, AVF by Adrián Vallés, 1:56.897
14th – No. 19, Frank Bird*, GBR, Fortec Motorsports, 1:56.932
15th – No. 25, Julia Pankiewicz, POL, Mark Burdett Motorsport, 1:56.935
16th – No. 34, Ghislain Cordeel, BEL, Arden Motorsport, 1:57.247^
^ Car No. 34 – Lap 3 deleted due to track limits
Group B
1st – No. 10, Robert Shwartzman*, RUS, Josef Kaufmann Racing, 1:54.750
2nd – No. 33, Daniel Ticktum*, GBR, Arden Motorsport, 1:55.123
3rd – No. 7, Max Fewtrell*, GBR, Tech 1 Racing, 1:55.240
4th – No. 4, Gabriel Aubry, FRA, Tech 1 Racing, 1:55.514
5th – No. 16, Thomas Randle, AUS, AVF by Adrián Vallés, 1:55.866
6th – No. 2, Luis Leeds*, AUS, Josef Kaufmann Racing, 1:55.987
7th – No. 6, Thomas Neubauer*, FRA, Tech 1 Racing, 1:56.193^^
8th – No. 30, Jarno Opmeer*, NLD, MP Motorsport, 1:56.195
9th – No. 5, Thomas Maxwell*, AUS, Tech 1 Racing, 1:56.228
10th – No. 31, Neil Verhagen*, USA, MP Motorsport, 1:56.258
11th – No. 29, Richard Verschoor*, NLD, MP Motorsport, 1:56.309
12th – No. 22, Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer*, FRA, JD Motorsport, 1:56.561^^^
13th – No. 20, Najiy Razak, MYS, Fortec Motorsports, 1:56.634
14th – No. 21, Sun Yue Yang*, CHN, JD Motorsport, 1:56.713
15th – No. 41 – Théo Coicaud*, FRA, R-ace-GP, 1:57.839
^^ Car No. 6 – Lap 6 deleted due to track limits
^^^ Car No. 22 – Lap 7 deleted due to track limits
Race 1
1st – No. 10, Robert Shwartzman*, RUS, Josef Kaufmann Racing, 14 laps, 27:15.992
2nd – No. 9, Max Defourny, BEL, R-ace GP, Gap: 0.615
3rd – No. 11, Sacha Fenestraz, FRA, Josef Kaufmann Racing, Gap: 5.925
4th – No. 33, Daniel Ticktum*, GBR, Arden Motorsport, Gap: 11.712
5th – No. 13, Henrique Chaves, POR, AVF by Adrián Vallés, Gap: 12.442
6th – No. 7, Max Fewtrell*, GBR, Tech 1 Racing, Gap: 12.870
7th – No. 1, Yifei Ye*, CHN, Josef Kaufmann Racing, Gap: 13.524
8th – No. 8, Will Palmer, GBR, R-ace GP, Gap: 14.133
9th – No. 4, Gabriel Aubry, FRA, Tech 1 Racing, Gap: 14.657
10th – No. 93, Zane Goddard*, AUS, Arden Motorsport, Gap: 15.799
11th – No. 16, Thomas Randle, AUS, AVF by Adrián Vallés, Gap: 18.797
12th – No. 23, Alexander Vartanyan, RUS, JD Motorsport, Gap: 19.640
13th – No. 17, Alex Peroni, AUS, Fortec Motorsports, Gap: 20.061
14th – No. 2, Luis Leeds*, AUS, Josef Kaufmann Racing, Gap: 24.367
15th – No. 6, Thomas Neubauer*, FRA, Tech 1 Racing, Gap: 25.010
16th – No. 30, Jarno Opmeer*, NLD, MP Motorsport, Gap: 26.428
17th – No. 18, Alexey Korneev, RUS, Fortec Motorsports, Gap: 26.773
18th – No. 31, Neil Verhagen*, USA, MP Motorsport, Gap: 27.417
19th – No. 15, Axel Matus*, MEX, AVF by Adrián Vallés, Gap: 30.421
20th – No. 29, Richard Verschoor*, NLD, MP Motorsport, Gap: 31.000
21st – No. 12, Raul Guzman*, MEX, R-ace GP, Gap: 31.592
22nd – No. 22, Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer*, FRA, JD Motorsport, Gap: 32.439
23rd – No. 5, Thomas Maxwell*, AUS, Tech 1 Racing, Gap: 33.249
24th – No. 26, Presley Martono*, IND, Mark Burdett Motorsport, Gap: 35.775
25th – No. 34, Ghislain Cordeel, BEL, Arden Motorsport, Gap: 37.652
26th – No. 21, Sun Yue Yang*, CHN, JD Motorsport, Gap: 37.984
27th – No. 20, Najiy Razak, MYS, Fortec Motorsports, Gap: 38.240
28th – No. 25, Julia Pankiewicz, POL, Mark Burdett Motorsport, Gap: 53.906
29th – No. 19, Frank Bird*, GBR, Fortec Motorsports, Gap: 55.144
30th – No. 41, Théo Coicaud*, FRA, R-ace-GP, Gap: 1:14.252
Not Classified
No. 40, Charles Milesi*, FRA, R-ace GP, Lap 9
Fastest Lap
No. 9, Max Defourny, BEL, R-ace GP, Lap 9, 1:56.221, 159.1 kph
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