NEC: Series Spa summary

Ghidi strengthens lead in NEC at Spa - Francorchamps

The seventh weekend of the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup during the Racing Festival at Spa - Francorchamps has seen three different winners from three different teams. Winners Genis Olive, Will Stevens and Robin Frijns demanded the victories, but Ludwig Ghidi managed to secure the most points for the championship.

The Racing Festival offered all kinds of challenges to the twenty-six Formula Renault competitors. Not only three races and many new faces on paddock, but the weather also presented every type it could possible offer. Considerable rain on Saturday, and full sunshine on Sunday gave way to chances for everyone leading to three exciting races.

The Spanish crew of Epsilon Euskadi had done a good job in qualifying on the late Saturday morning. Under wet conditions, Alex Riberas qualified with the fastest time (2 min 28.88). The rain had stopped and the track had just one dry ideal line when it was time for the first race of the weekend on Saturday afternoon.

The first race had a quite problematic start, as Kalle Kulmanen for the Dutch team of MP Motorsport saw heavy smoke coming from his car and decided to exit just before the starting lights turned off. The start was cancelled; another formation lap was installed. After the race was shortened for 2 minutes because of this procedure, the remaining cars began the fifteenth run of the Northern European Cup. Ludwig Ghidi had an amazing start and flew from eight to first postion in the first few corners. Unfortunately for the young Belgian he could not maintain his lead and had to let the faster Genis Olive and Robin Frijns pass.

Alessio Picariello, who brought his team SL Formula another win in just his second weekend of motorsport ever, won the Formula Renault 2000. He finished first, in front of Johann Ledermair and Frank Suntjens.

The second race of the weekend, on Sunday morning the third of October began with a crash. Although all cars managed to survive the start, things turned ugly for Daniel Schilling. After already having flipped his car on Saturday during the first race, he met bad luck again on the Sunday morning. The car was damaged considerably, which caused race control to bring the safety car in the field. Having the race neutralised had the advantage of very small differences between all drivers, causing many fights for position after the safety car left in the fourth lap. Will Stevens made the most spectacular move and caught Genis Olive on the outside of Les Combes. Doing so, he managed to secure his first victory in the series. The 2000 standings was won by guest driver Amir Mesny from France, followed by Frank Suntjens and Leopold Ringbom.

The last and third race of the Northern European Cup at the Belgian Race Festival started at 16.00 PM on Sunday afternoon. As the result of the first race determines the starting grid of the third, Genis Olive could start all the way up front. Robin Frijns, who recently became the Formula BMW champion of 2010, completed the first line for this last game under sunny conditions.

Ghidi had another great start, taking the lead for the second time this weekend, followed by Olive and Frijns. The latter for Josef Kaufmann Racing was obviously the fastest man on track, and shortly after passing Olive, the Dutchmen was able to overtake Ghidi in the seventh lap of the race. Passing the start/finish line after 11 laps on the Belgian tarmac, he had a solid eight seconds to number two of the race Ludwig Ghidi. Olive had a tough last round, and had to give up his podium to the faster Alex Riberas.

Picariello and SL Formula signed for the second victory this weekend, followed by Johann Ledermair who did a very good job for his position in the championship. By finishing every race, of which two on podium, he managed to take the second position of Daniel Schilling in the overall standings. The Fin Leopold Ringbom also impressed, by finishing a second time on podium in this event.

The winner of the weekend could be called Ludwig Ghidi for his Danish team KEO Racing. Although he did not get to any victory in the Belgian Ardennes, he put down a consistent performance. He strengthened his lead and has a 41- point advantage towards his strongest competitor Mikkel Mac. Jeroen Mul in third place will have to do all in his power to fight for his chances during the last round of the championship in two weeks. Dear Schilling managed to keep his lead in the Formula Renault 2000 standings, but has now Johann Ledermair as his closest enemy for the title. Brother Daniel Schilling has had a rough event, but can still recover if he gets all in order for the last three races of the season.

The eighth and last round of the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup will be held at the Nuerburgring on the 16th and 17th of October 2010.

-source: nec