EU 2.0: Series Brno race 2 report

Pic makes it a double

Tech 1 Racing's Arthur Pic made a faultless comeback in his Eurocup Forula Renault 2.0 championship campaign by claiming a double at Brno. Having already claimed both pole positions, and now winning both races, not to mention setting the two fastest laps of the meeting, the Frenchman enjoyed a perfect weekend which ended with him lying third in the overall points. Epsilon Euskadi's Alex Riberas, 16, and Interwetten's Luciano Bacheta completed the line-up for the podium.

By setting the fastest lap in the single qualifying session, Arthur Pic once again found himself in pole position for the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 this Sunday morning. The Frenchman lined up on the starting grid ahead of Korainen Bros Motorsport's Miki Weckstrom, Alex Riberas and Krenek Motorsport's Adam Kout.

Thanks to a smooth start, Pic managed to hold on to his lead over Weckstrom and Bacheta who also made a got away cleanly when the lights changed. Kout, however, lost ground to find himself in fifth place. On the pace from the word go, Riberas caught up with Weckstrom on the second lap to claim second. Bacheta tried to take advantage, but the Finn firmly shut the door.

Weckstrom, Bacheta, Kout and Korainen Bros Motorsport's Bart Hykelma soon found themselves neck and neck. The three leaders in this chasing pack found were still side by side as they went into turn 1 and unsurprisingly ran out of space. Weckstrom and Kout collided, while Bacheta somehow managed to scrape through. After three laps, Pic had built up a solid lead over Riberas. Bacheta meanwhile held third ahead of Hykelma and Epsilon Euskadi's Genis Olive.

At this point Riberas began to pile on the pressure, managing to gain some ground on the leader. The Spaniard wasted no time in catching up with the Frenchman. Bacheta and Hykelma were holding their own in third and fourth places. However, the action was intense between Olive, teammate Miguel Otegui, and Korainen Bros Motorsport's Kevin Korjus, as they fought it out for fifth.

Despite their best efforts, the positions would remain the same for the rest of the race. Finally, Arthur Pic claimed his Brno double, finishing ahead of Riberas, who found himself on the podium just six races into his single-seater career. In third, Bacheta scored some much needed points, while the leader in the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 championship, Kevin Korjus, finished in just seventh place. Events in the overall points are now much closer as a result. Korjus remains leader, followed by Luciano Bacheta and Arthur Pic.

Quote, unquote:

Arthur Pic : "It's a perfect weekend, but this win didn't come easy as Alex Riberas was really fast. I had to be 100% focused from start to finish. I needed a weekend like this one to get back in the running. Now I need to do the same at Magny-Cours, to be in with a chance of the title."

Alex Riberas : I need to thank Joan Villadelprat and everyone at Epsilon Euskadi for believing in me this season. I'm only 16 and I have no previous experience in single-seater racing. This second place is as good as a win when you consider I'm up against drivers with so much more experience than me!"

Luciano Bacheta : "It was a very exciting race, particularly in the first few laps. I scored some useful points this weekend. I scored points in both races, but I didn't win either of them. To do that, I need to work harder in qualifying. The championship is getting tighter, it's like a whole new season starting^a"

-source: wsr