Home race week for FRECA in Zandvoort

Zandvoort was next up for our FRECA team after the round in Spielberg, and the team was looking forward to expanding their point total for the championship. Although the track wasn’t at the end of the street of our workshop, Zandvoort is a short drive compared to the other European rounds. After two Practice Sessions, it was time for the first Qualifying Session on Saturday morning.

Qualifying

All MP drivers were classified in Group A, which went first during the session. Surprisingly the times set in the first group were faster than the second, which is not often the case. This in the end meant a P13 for Nikita, a P15 for Nikhil, and a P19 for Valerio. In the second Qualifying Session, our drivers qualified as follows: Nikhil at P15, Nikita in nineteenth, and Valerio at P23.

Race 1

For the first race, the team needed to change the tyres quickly because of heavy rain. The start was delayed but eventually, the race started, although behind the safety car for more than half of the session. It didn’t start the way Valerio would have wanted, because the rookie unfortunately got off the track and stuck in the gravel after having battled with his direct competitor. Nikita made up two places compared to his starting position, getting into eleventh. Nikhil defended well and stayed in the same position he qualified in; P15.

Race 2

Having started nineteenth, Nikita was given the challenge to finish into the points. And he completed it! After an amazing drive and overtaking multiple drivers, he managed to secure a P9 to finish off the weekend. Nikhil also drove a good race and was constantly in battle, but unfortunately lost a couple of positions in the final laps which led him to finish nineteenth. Valerio finished P27 in the end.

Again a weekend in which we learned a lot to implement into the next one. There is a strong feeling of improvement and we are excited about what the rest of the season holds for our FRECA team!

Standings after the third round of racing:
P14 Nikita – 14 points
P18 Nikhil – 1 point
P21 Valerio – 0 points

Team Standings
P8 – 15 points