Formula Renault 2.0
The 38 drivers making up the field in the 2013 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 took to the track at Motorland Aragon on Friday, as the season’s first meeting began with two sessions of collective testing. The mix of newcomers and returning drivers were faced with some changeable weather conditions, with Nyck de Vries (Koiranen GP) and Jake Dennis (Fortec Motorsports) coping best of all to top the timesheets.
It was the young guns of Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 who had the honour of getting the 2013 World Series by Renault season under way at Motorland Aragon in Spain.
Making light of a wet track Nyck de Vries (Koiranen GP) showed himself to be fully at ease at the wheel of the 2013 version of the Formula Renault 2.0, the Dutchman posting the fastest lap of the morning after both Matthieu Vaxiviere (Tech 1 Racing) and Esteban Ocon (ART Junior Team) had impressed early on. Out on his own in a time of 2:13.391, the McLaren protégé eventually ended the session ahead of Jake Dennis (Fortec Motorsports), Oliver Rowland (Manor MP Motorsport) and the ART Junior Team trio of Andrea Pizzitola, Esteban Ocon and Alex Baron.
The afternoon brought clearing skies as Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly (Tech 1 Racing) and Nyck De Vries all improved on the morning’s benchmark, though it was Jake Dennis who took the session honours with a time of 1:56.173, some two tenths of a second quicker than Pierre Gasly and Nyck De Vries. Esteban Ocon came in behind them to complete a top four composed entirely of junior drivers.
What they said
Nyck De Vries: “It’s a good start despite the difficult conditions this morning. There was a lot of spray and not much visibility, but we still did a good job. I hope we can keep it going. Last year was my first season in a single seater and I feel more relaxed and prepared this time around. I know what to expect now even though the car is faster.”
Jake Dennis: “We’ve had a really good first day. I’m very happy with how the car handled on the track, both in the wet and in the dry. Finishing in the top three in the two sessions bodes very well for the weekend’s races. It’s difficult to make any kind of prediction for these next two days because the conditions are so variable. The weather’s going to have a big say but we’ve prepared well for qualifying and the races.”
Alexander Albon: “These two testing sessions could have been better. We’ve got some work to do to close up on the best. The gaps are very tight, but it’s up to us to make progress over the weekend and put in a good performance.”
Official Renault Sport Press Release