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I was feeling confident ahead of the race, our long run pace was better than qualifying speed. It then started drizzle with rain just as the race was starting. I had a good start and was 10th at the end of lap one. On lap 2 I overtook another 2 cars, and from that point on the race settled, with one more move putting me into 7th I crossed the line. The winner was disqualified for a technical infringement, so I was promoted to 6th place, with 5 points.
Official Race Report
The threatening sky above the Barcelona circuit was in no way going to affect the motivation levels of the thirty drivers raring to do battle at this first meeting of Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 season. From his enviable pole position, Albert Costa made a perfect start. Behind him, James Calado was quicker away than Nico Müller and raced into second place. Nathanaël Berthon also took the opportunity to speed past Müller into third.
Albert Costa set a fast pace early in the race and quickly put space between himself and the chasing drivers. James Calado was proving able to handle the pressure from Nathanaël Berthon and Nico Müller, while in fifth place, Johan Jokinen (Iquick Valencia) was feeling the pressure from Antonio Felix da Costa (Motopark Academy) and Miki Monras (SG Formula). Gradually this group was being caught up by Kevin Magnussen (Motopark Academy) and Jean-Eric Vergne (SG Formula). Behind Albert Costa, eight cars were practically nose to tail at this point in the race.
Jean-Éric Vergne moved past Kevin Magnussen into 8th place. He then moved to take on his team mate Miki Monras. In front of his home crowd, the Spaniard wasn’t going to let himself be passed. The consequence was an excursion into the gravel trap for Jean-Éric Vergne followed by Kevin Magnussen. Vergne re-entered the fray in 12th place, whereas Magnussen was forced to retire.
As always in this typically action-packed Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 race, there were numerous duels throughout the field. Further back in a battle for 13th place, Carlos Munoz (Epsilon Euskadi) and Daniel de Jong (MP Motorsport) got the better of Dominic Storey (SG Formula).
Meanwhile up ahead, the gap between Albert Costa and James Calado stabilized at three seconds. The British driver’s third place was still under threat from attacks by Nathanaël Berthon and Nico Muller. Berthon came back strong in the closing stages and pushed past Calado at the end of the start-finish straight. The Frenchman was now second. In the next lap it was Nico Muller’s turn to get the better of Calado. The victim of a puncture on his right rear tire, the British driver was in the end unable to make his excellent performance count and was forced to retire. Beyond the three leaders, Antonio Felix da Costa was still looking for an opening to get past Johan Jokinen. The Dane came unstuck in the penultimate lap and had to let Antonio Felix da Costa through.
After leading from start to finish, Albert Costa claimed his first victory in Formula Renault 2.0 ahead of Nathanaël Berthon, giving Epsilon Euskadi the one-two. Nico Muller came in third, making this first podium of the season a 100% first in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0.
Posted: 18.04.2009