Formula Renault 2.0
The Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 drivers’ title was decided a fortnight ago, when Robin Frijns (Josef Kaufmann Racing) notched his fifth win of the season at the Paul Ricard HTTT. The team crown is still up for grabs, however, with both Koiranen Motorsport and Josef Kaufmann Racing in the running ahead of the final meeting at Barcelona. Carlos Sainz Jr (Koiranen Motorsport) and Daniil Kvyat (Koiranen Motorsport) also have personal objectives in mind as they go head-to-head for second place. While the Spaniard holds the advantage, the Russian has been in impressive form of late.
Given Carlos Sainz Jr’s irrepressible early-season run, it was something of a surprise to see Robin Frijns wrap the title up with two races still to go. That said, as the statistics show, the 20-year-old Dutchman has been in consistently brilliant form all year long.
Frijns’ ability to churn out the results has proved the difference. Finishing in the points in all 12 races, with two fifth-places his worst performances to date, the 2010 Formula BMW Europe champion has recorded five wins and nine podium finishes despite starting only one race on pole in the whole season. Having added another title to his CV, the Dutchman will now pocket €500,000 and follow the respective 2009 and 2010 champions, Albert Costa and Kevin Korjus, in making the step up to Formula Renault 3.5 Series.
With the team title at stake, there is no question of the Josef Kaufmann Racing man easing off in the final meeting of the season. Competing for the first time in the discipline, the German stable will be looking to the increasingly assured duo of Oscar Andres Tunjo and Mathieu Jaminet to give Frijns some solid support at Barcelona.
Championship frontrunners Koiranen Motorsport are 23 points clear as they look to close in on their maiden team triumph. Nevertheless, with Sainz Jr and Kvyat holding nothing back as they fight it out for second place in the overall drivers’ standings, the Finnish outfit will need to keep their cool. The Spaniard holds a 24-point lead over his team-mate, who has raised his game as the season nears its conclusion. On pole twice this season and the winner of two races, the Russian is brimming with confidence after claiming three race wins in the final round of the Formula Renault 2.0 NEC at Monza. Just to add spice to their duel, the duo are also fighting it out to become the season’s highest-ranked Red Bull Junior Team driver.
Great Britain’s Will Stevens looks set to finish fourth overall, while Timmy Hansen (Interwetten.com Junior Team), Stoffel Vandoorne (KTR) and Paul-Loup Chatin (Tech 1 Racing) are locked in a tussle for fifth, with only five points separating the trio.
Aside from Sainz Jr, who has personal and team objectives in mind, there are two other Spaniards in the field, with Javier Tarancon (Tech 1 Racing) and Alex Riberas (Epic Racing) aiming to end the season on a high note in front of their friends and admirers.
Official Renault Sport Press Release.