Double win for Red Bull Junior Daniil Kvyat (RUS) at the season opener of the Formula Renault 2.0 Alps championship in Monza.
Kvyat, a 17-year-old Russian who lives in Rome, started from pole position today in the royal park. The two team-mates, Stefan Wackerbauer (GER) and Alex Albon (GBR), tackled their second Formula Renault race today from sixth and 16th position, respectively.
The race distance in this series: 25 minutes plus one lap.
Weather conditions were again ideal today – sunny, early summer-like fair weather.
Race control had assembled all the drivers prior to the start to once more call for discipline in the race. Yesterday’s race was seriously impaired by several safety car periods.
Today all went well! Kvyat moved into the lead immediately after the start, followed by Carlos Tunjo (COL) and Paul-Lou Chatin (FRA).
Like yesterday Wackerbauer again lost several positions early on today and was soon running in twelfth. Albon was able to rejoice at his maiden race laps following his retirement on lap one yesterday – early on the Brit was running in P15.
Kvyat was then able to pull away from his pursuers, while Wackerbauer was quickly able to make up several positions. He moved up to fifth place with several strong manoeuvres.
Then, on lap ten, the safety car came onto the track – following an accident just before the Parabolica which unfortunately again involved world karting champion Alex Albon as well.
And then, at that of all points in time, Stefan Wackerbauer’s race was over as well. The reason: Brazil’s Silva had suddenly braked without any reason, and Wackerbauer was unable to avoid him.
After the restart Kvyat was able to defend his lead and subsequently quickly extend it as well. The safety car then headed for the GP circuit again following an incident, and it was in this period that the young Russian crossed the finishing line of Monza as the winner.
Unfortunately Kvyat also was the sole Red Bull Junior in today’s classification.
Kvyat: “Two races, two wins. A season can’t start better than that. Again I had no problems at all today, a perfect car, and I was able to control the race from the very start. The safety car periods didn’t get me into trouble either, even though I would have liked to drive through a race without interruptions for once. We can build upon this performance, also in the Eurocup.”
Wackerbauer: “Unfortunately I once again had serious clutch problems at the start, while upshifting, really extreme ones this time – and then I suddenly was down in the mid of the pack. But the speed was all right, and so I was able to work my way back up with several amusing manoeuvres, even though my car was oversteering badly. And then I retired during the safety car period – I tried to keep the temperature in my tyres, when Silva suddenly braked, and then I had no chance to avoid him. That’s very annoying and unfortunate, too. For sure even my first rostrum in this series would have been possible today – without the troubles at the start. But I learned a lot, experienced a lot, and that’s going to help me in future for sure.”
Albon: “I had a very good start and soon was in eleventh place already, behind Wackerbauer. I had a really good pace and was able to work my way up the order. But then Fraga moved over on me at the end of the long straight leading up to the Parabolica and I was catapulted over his rear wheel. It was a heavy shunt – thank God I only slightly contused my legs and my wrist. But what a shame about a very promising race!”
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