EU 2.0: Series Spa preview

Kevin Korjus on the ascendant

Korainen Bros Motorsport's Kevin Korjus never expected to be in such a perfect position! Having won both races at Motorland Aragon, the Estonian comes to Spa-Francorchamps as leader of Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0. He will be hungry for further success on this legendary circuit, while his competitors will do everything to stop him in his tracks.

As this season's first winner in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 behind the wheel of the Renault Sport Technologies newly designed car, Kevin Korjus will already go down in the history of the World Series by Renault. Not only that: the Korainen Bros Motorsport driver is also the first Estonian race-winner at this level of competition. The young driver is the first to have been surprised by his amazing start to the season, with two wins in as many races, but is now naturally setting his sights higher, already establishing himself as a potential champion.

He will be wearing a new label at Spa-Francorchamps, that of favourite, but he appears to be taking it all in his stride. Around Eau Rouge, Les Combes, Pouhon, Stavelot and Blanchimont, turns that he faced last season in the Formula Renault 2.0 North European Cup, the 17-year old will be trying hard to build on his 12-point lead over Interwetten.com's Luciano Bacheta.

Among the favourites announced at the start of the season, Bacheta is the only driver so far to make good on his promise at Motorland Aragon. Finishing third and fourth despite difficult qualifying sessions, the British driver scored valuable points, and looks ready to make an even bigger impression as the season proceeds. In contrast, One Racing's Daniel Mancinelli and Tech 1 Racing's Arthur Pic have found it more difficult to find the pace.

For Pic, the two races in Spain ended the same way. Collisions with Andre Negrao of the Cram Competition team, as the Brazilian driver lead the race ahead of Pic on each occasion. Pic and Negrao showed off their competitive edge, each snatching pole position, but both drivers are at a disadvantage in the points table, neither having scored at Motorland Aragon. They will need to try to find their form in Belgium.

Daniel Mancinelli, who stood out in winter testing, was apprehensive about starting off at the Motorland Aragon circuit. Finishing seventh and ninth, the 2009 champion of Formula Renault 2.0 Italy was able to limit the damage, but he too will need to show what he is capable of at Spa-Francorchamps.

The other good surprise at the entry to the new season has been Tech 1 Racing's Hugo Valente. With a year's experience in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 already under his belt, the Parisian driver showed himself in a new light in the opening round. Competitive in qualifying, he went on to drive two very respectable races. Frenchman Valente finished eighth on Saturday, after being forced to start from the pits due to electrical problems, followed by a second place on Sunday. Having led the race for several laps, he now knows that he has the potential to win. And that's exactly what he'll be trying to do on this track which favours the brave.

The rankings, as they stand after the first round, are of course far from being conclusive. Miguel Otegui (Epsilon Euskadi), Giovanni Venturini (Epsilon Euskadi), Daniel De Jong (MP Motorsport), Bart Hylkema (Koiranen Bros Motorsport), Alex Riberas (Epsilon Euskadi) and even Aaro Vainio (Tech 1 Racing) are all in with a chance this season. This list isn‘t exhaustive, and there could well be more surprises in store at Spa-Francorchamps.

-source: wsr