The first meeting of the 2017 Formula Renault Eurocup season got off to a flying start! Will Palmer (R-ace GP) set fastest time in the collective tests with a lap of 1:47.978, bettering the previous best time in the category at the Autodromo di Monza by nearly a second. The Briton led from Sacha Fenestraz (Josef Kaufmann Racing) and Robert Shwartzman (R-ace GP), who set best time in the morning session. China’s Yifei Ye (Josef Kaufmann Racing) was quickest among the rookies.
On Thursday, Robert Shwartzman clocked the fastest lap in the four-hour private test. For the official collective tests on Friday, the field had two 50-minute sessions to fine-tune their preparations.
Shwartzman quickest in the am
Under bright blue skies, there were several leader changes just until the first stoppage provoked by Frank Bird (Fortec Motorsports). Max Defourny (R-ace GP), Max Fewtrell (Tech 1 Racing), Alex Peroni (Fortec Motorsports) and Luis Leeds (Josef Kaufmann Racing) all took turns at the top of the time sheet.
Max Defourny retook the lead, but Gabriel Aubry (Tech 1 Racing) then went quicker and Robert Shwartzman then did the same. Before the off of Rodrigo Pflucker (AVF by Adrián Vallés), the SMP Racing driver set a time of 1:48.365 to lead from Gabriel Aubry, Sacha Fenestraz and Max Defourny. Red Bull Junior Team driver, Richard Verschoor (MP Motorsport) was fifth and top rookie in the session.
Palmer takes over from his team mate
In the afternoon, Gabriel Aubry, Thomas Maxwell (Tech 1 Racing), Max Defourny, Robert Shwartzman and Will Palmer each lead the way with the Englishman on top before Max Defourny began the final 10-minute sprint of the session.
Robert Shwartzman was the first to better his reference time, but his team mate Will Palmer finished on top thanks to his lap of 1:47.978 just before the session came to a premature end due to the off track excursions of Ghislain Cordeel (Arden Motorsport) and Max Fewtrell (Tech 1 Racing). Will Palmer was followed by Sacha Fenestraz, Robert Shwartzman, Max Defourny and rookie Yifei Ye.
Renault Sport Press Release