Formula BMW
EU: Rupert Svendsen-Cook Zolder summary
Svendsen-Cook breaks into top ten Rupert hails best ever result in Belgium Rupert Svendsen-Cook is celebrating his best-ever result since graduating from karting after scoring an 11th and 8th place finish in the latest round of the Formula BMW ...
Published: Jun 4, 2008, 8:50 PM
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Svendsen-Cook breaks into top ten
Rupert hails best ever result in Belgium
Rupert Svendsen-Cook is celebrating his best-ever result since graduating from karting after scoring an 11th and 8th place finish in the latest round of the Formula BMW Europe Championship at Zolder, Belgium.
A remarkable feat on a circuit not renowned for its overtaking opportunities, Svendsen-Cook made progress in both races from his qualifying slot to record two more strong point finishes.
Qualifying itself showed promise as Rupert took 14th on the 28-strong grid for the first race, before improving to line-up 10th for the second event. However, with the team having strategically chosen to sacrifice qualifying speed in favour of a better set-up over a race distance, Rupert was confident that he could make significant progress up the order in his Double R Racing machine.
And so it proved in the first race as Rupert used a strong start to surge up the order to run 11th. Although he would remain there to the chequered flag, Rupert admits he was keen to get good points on the board rather than risk an incident around the tight Belgian circuit.
He said: "We deliberately set the car up to sacrifice some qualifying pace in order to be quicker in the races and it was certainly paying off. In the first race I managed to get a good start and I was running comfortably with the pace of the cars in front but it's really difficult to overtake in Zolder."
Starting on the fifth row of the grid for the second race, Rupert again proved quick at the start to stay inside the top ten before going on to snatch eighth on the way to the chequered flag. Together with the sixth fastest race lap in a field that consists of several more experienced racers, the results mark the best of Rupert's career.
He added: "The second race was far better. I got a great start to move into the top ten and I was able to work my way up to eighth, where I stayed. I was encouraged to be right on the pace with the guys in front of me too, but again it was too difficult to make a pass because everyone is so evenly matched.
"I have been training hard and the team have been making great preparations, which is what is making all the differ- ence at the moment. Double R are moving me on as a driver too and it is showing in my results, which are not only consistent, but getting better all the time."
Also coming away as the best of the British contingent, Double R Racing team principal, Anthony `Boyo' Hieatt was delighted with Rupert's current form.
He said: "Rupert did a fantastic job for us this weekend. You can clearly see he is maturing as a racer and I am sure even better results are just around the corner."
Rupert is now looking ahead to rounds 5 & 6 of the Formula BMW Europe Championship to be held at his home event of Silverstone. Playing support to the British Grand Prix, Rupert will look to repeat the form he showed there during pre-season testing when he was classified as third fastest.
-credit: rupertsvendsen-cook.com
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