FIA F2

Ocena Racing Tech Nurburgring Event Summary

Nurburgring GP-Strecke

Edited: Jun 1, 2018, 1:11 PM

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Johnny Cecotto

A top 10 finish for Cecotto is a bright spot in an otherwise gray weekend

Ocean Racing Technology wrapped up the first GP2 Series race on Germany’s Nürburgring with a top 10. But once again, the result secured by Johnny Cecotto Jr does not reflect the Portuguese team's full performance. In the first race, Kevin Mirocha started from the 9th row and Johnny Cecotto Jr was on the 11th row, and Ocean knew that the first race would be essential to move up in positions in order to reach the points in the second race. Unfortunately, Kevin Mirocha’s hopes were dashed in the first corner, after the German driver was speared by Paul Varhaug, who earned himself a penalty for his maneuver. As for Johnny Cecotto Jr, he secured 10th place in a very tough race, on a wet track during the first part of the race, where the team’s strategy helped make the difference.

Johnny Cecotto

Photo by: GP2 Media Service

In the second race, Johnny Cecotto was well-positioned to finish in the points. The Venezuelan was engaged in a turbulent struggle, with track conditions still quite tricky. He was eventually forced to abandon the race after a collision with Rodolfo González while he was in 8thposition. “González braked late and hit me violently. It’s unbelievable. It’s like he was trying to do hurt me. I had started the race trying to save my tyres and I was still in a position to move up a few places. I had a car that could win points easily, it was having no mechanical problems and was set up perfectly thanks to the crew’s hard work. It is very regrettable that manoeuvres like what Gonzalez did are not penalized,” declared an extremely disappointed Cecotto.

As for Kevin Mirocha, he started next to last on the grid due to his DNF on Saturday. The German’s task was very difficult because he had to move up a great deal of positions in order to secure a good result. All the same, he managed to move up to 11th position before losing two places following a collision with González. For Mirocha, it was a conclusion that mirrored the entire weekend: difficult. “I know the Nürburgring well, it's a track I like. Unfortunately, things got complicated starting in qualifying. The rain made the session difficult and I ended up losing time. Despite it all, I moved up a few positions at the start of the first race. But in the first corner I was speared by Paul Varhaug and my race ended there. As a result, on Sunday, I had to start behind everybody. In the first laps, the car was not easy to drive with the rain tyres, but things got better when we put on the slicks. From there I had to have a faster pace, especially in the corners, and I moved up to 11th position, which was not too bad considering my starting position. But towards the end, Gonzalez was behind me and bumped into me near a tyre, which made me shunt and lose two positions. I even could have abandoned the race,” Kevin Mirocha lamented.

The next leg of the GP2 Series takes place next weekend on the Hungaroring. After being in a position to secure points fair and square in Germany, Ocean Racing Technology is confident and hopes to obtain a good result in Hungary. Kevin Mirocha has only race once on the Hungaroring, but feels that with a good strategy, the team could finish in the points. Johnny Cecotto Jr is also optimistic, affirming that “barring any mechanical problems or our rivals forcing us out of the race, Ocean Racing Technology is capable of fighting for a spot on the podium.”

by: Ocean Racing Technologies

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