NEC Formula Renault 2.0 Champion
Brilliant win at Nurburgring secures Title with two races to finish the championship
Antonio Félix da Costa won this weekend in Nurburgring the Formula Renault 2.0 North European Championship title. After showing a strong and consistent performance during all season with 10 podiums in 12 races (nine wins and 1 second place), the Motorpark Portuguese driver won his first international title. Also in Nurburgring, Antonio Felix da Costa had the second last journey of the Eurocup, where he won the first race, and finished P2 on the second, being this classification suspended after an appeal from his team Motopark Academy against the disqualification of the Portuguese driver.
Due to the proximity of time between the first race of the NEC and the second race of the Eurocup, Team Motopark decided to make the Portuguese driver start from the pit lane in order to avoid the usual confusion of the first corner at Nurburgring: "I was P3 on the grid, where usually some confusion might happen on the start, so we decided to play secure and start from the pits" said Antonio, who after the field of 18 drivers pass, pulled out of the pit-lane and finished on a excellent sixth position after overtaking thirteen cars in thirteen laps.This result allowed Felix da Costa to start third , given the reversal of the top 8 of the grid for race two.
In the second race, pulling out of third place, Antonio Felix da Costa gave no chance to their opponents and won after an impressive race, finishing with more than 6 seconds clear of second-placed Briton Adrian Quaife - Hobbs. This result allowed the young Portuguese driver, considered by many as one of the most promising young drivers of the moment to collect the North European title of Formula Renault 2.0, still with two races to go at Spa Francorchamps in two weeks time.
"It was a very stressful weekend, I learn a lot about how to control emotions, I run two races for the Eurocup and two other for the NEC. I am really happy with my performance and I believe this title was a great reward for all the work and commitment that my team has spent since the beginning of the season. I am very pleased and even more motivated to continue to fight for the European Championship. I would like to thank and dedicate this title to those who accompanied me along this time, between sponsors, all guys in Motopark, friends, my manager team - Sowhat and my dad."
In the second race of the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup Championship, Antonio Felix da Costa has again been highlighted. After the victory in the first race, he secured a second place on race two. The classification of both two races and scorings at Nurburgring for the Eurocup is currently suspended, pending resolution of the Sport Court of Appeals, due to the appeal brought by Motopark against an alleged irregularity. "The decision of the appeal of Motopark on these two races will come in the coming weeks. Both me and my team are fully confident that the final decision will be in our favour and the recovery of 27 points will come to me. For now I want to celebrate and enjoy the NEC title and after focus myself on the last race of the Eurocup at Alcaniz", concluded the new North European Formula Renault 2.0 Champion.
North European Championship classification after 7 meetings (1 race meeting to finish):
1º António Félix da Costa (Campeão), 307pts; 2º Kevin Magnussen (Dinamarquês), 234pts; 3º Adrian Quaife-Hobbs (Britânico), 195pts ..... (38 drivers classified)
