Robert Shwartzman (R-ace GP) was the man to beat in the Formula Renault Eurocup collective tests on the streets of Pau. With his time of 1:13.870, the SMP Racing backed Russian led from Henrique Chaves (AVF by Adrián Vallés) and Alex Peroni (Fortec Motorsports), who topped the morning time sheet. Renault Sport Academy member, Max Fewtrell (Tech 1 Racing) was the fastest rookie of the day.
On Friday, the drivers had a 40-minute session to learn or re-learn the Pau circuit before a second session in which they ran in their qualifying groups, with 18 minutes of track time.
Peroni before the red flag
In wet conditions, Sacha Fenestraz (Josef Kaufmann Racing) and Max Defourny (R-ace GP) were on top of the time sheet early along with Red Bull Junior Team driver Daniel Ticktum (Arden Motorsport). Max Fewtrell was the first to switch to slicks, but the session was stopped prematurely following the error of Richard Verschoor (MP Motorsport).
Alex Peroni clocked the fastest lap with a time of 1:22.851. The Australian was followed by Sacha Fenestraz and rookies Zane Goddard (Arden Motorsport), Axel Matus (AVF by Adrián Vallés) and Alexander Vartanyan (JD Motorsport).
Fenestraz and Shwartzman dominate their groups
In the afternoon, Sacha Fenestraz made the most of the dryer conditions to lead Group A with a lap of 1:14.126. Max Defourny. Will Palmer (R-ace GP), rookie Yifei Ye (Josef Kaufmann Racing) and Daniel Ticktum completed the top five.
Despite the stoppage provoked by Zane Goddard, Group B was the faster of the two. Robert Shwartzman set the benchmark time of the day in 1:13.870, ahead of Henrique Chaves, Alex Peroni and Tech 1 Racing’s Max Fewtrell and Gabriel Aubry.
Renault Sport Press Release