Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0  - Barcelona – Race 2

Daniel Ricciardo (SG Formula) claimed victory for the sixth time this season in the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 but this is not enough. Finishing fourth, Valtteri Bottas (Motopark Academy) was the champion. The Finnish driver also picked up his second title of the year after having won the Formula Renault 2.0 NEC. The SG Formula team had to remain content with the Teams title.

The last qualifying session of the season was held on a dry track, in contrast to the previous day. Daniel Ricciardo took to the track for the sixth time this season since winning pole position. But with Valtteri Bottas leading by ten points, sixth on the grid, Ricciardo needed to win this final race to still be in with a chance of claiming the title.

Daniel Ricciardo (SG Formula) held his ground against Jean-Éric Vergne (SG Formula) and Andrea Caldarelli (SG Formula). Valtteri Bottas came up against Miki Monras (SG Formula) and lost one place. He was seventh behind Anton Nebilitskyi (SG Formula). The Finnish driver drew level with the Russian on the start-finish straight and grabbed sixth place despite resistance from Nebilitskyi.

In the lead, the three SG Formula drivers opened up a gap over Tobias Hegewald (Motopark Academy), in fourth place. Behind the German drive, Miki Monras was under pressure from Bottas. The Spaniard fought of the Finnish driver who needed to overtake him, given that Daniel Ricciardo was as good as the winner.

Andrea Caldarelli looked for a way past Jean-Éric Vergne. The Italian tried to sneak past his team mate at the end of the start-finish straight but the Frenchman held onto his second place. One lap later, Caldarelli saw his chance.

Behind the leading trio, Tobias Hegewald was caught up by Miki Monras, Valtteri Bottas, Anton Nebilistkyi, Pal Varhaug (Jenzer Motorsport) and Mathieu Arzeno (TCS Racing). The five drivers abreast tried to go into a turn at the start-finish straight. Monras slipped past Hegewald, then Bottas did the same. Moving up to fifth place, it was now Bottas who was looking set to claim the title!

Valtteri Bottas maintained his good form by overtaking Miki Monras in the next lap and moved up to fourth place. Miki Monras, Tobias Hegewald, Mathieu Arzeno, Pal Varhaug and Roberto Merhi (Epsilon Euskadi) continued the battle to win fifth place. Hegewald managed to get the better of his rivals.

Daniel Ricciardo (SG Formula) claimed victory for the sixth time this season ahead of teammates Andrea Caldarelli and Jean-Éric Vergne, for the first time on the podium. This result also enabled SG Formula to claim the Teams title. But in finishing fourth, Valtteri Bottas was the champion of the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 2008.

According to Valtteri Bottas, «At the very least I needed to come fifth. The start was difficult, but I finally managed to inch up to fourth place. That's when I relaxed a bit. This race was particularly difficult because I was ill last night and slept very little. Winning the title is such an honour! The winter race was decisive. With this title under our belts, we can start to prepare my future with my manager. I'm very happy today!»

According to Daniel Ricciardo, «By winning I achieved what I set out to do, I have no regrets. It's been a positive season, I've won six races but it's not enough. I'm a little disappointed but I now have to concentrate on the last race in the WEC. I want to win at least one title this season!»

Pos Number Driver  Team  Laps Time GapFirst KPH 

1 12 Daniel RICCIARDO SG FORMULA 16 28:30.828 - 158.8   2 14 Andrea CALDARELLI SG FORMULA 16 28:32.125 +1.297 158.2   3 6 Jean Eric VERGNE SG DRIVERS PROJECT 16 28:40.693 +9.865 157.8   4 11 Valtteri BOTTAS MOTOPARK ACADEMY 16 28:44.606 +13.778 157.3   5 10 Tobias HEGEWALD MOTOPARK ACADEMY 16 28:45.302 +14.474 158.2   6 34 Mathieu ARZENO TCS RACING 16 28:48.715 +17.887 157.1   7 28 Pal VARHAUG JENZER MOTORSPORT 16 28:51.054 +20.226 157.0   8 5  Anton NEBILITSKYI SG DRIVERS PROJECT 16 28:53.533 +22.705 157.0   9 36 Richard SINGLETON HITECH JUNIOR TEAM 16 28:54.190 +23.362 156.8   10 1 Jake ROSENZWEIG EPSILON EUSKADI 1 16 28:55.937 +25.109 156.8   11 25 Cesar RAMOS BVM MINARDI TEAM 16 28:57.267 +26.439 157.0   12 27 Michele FACCIN JENZER MOTORSPORT 16 28:57.797 +26.969 157.4   13 16 Sergio CAMPANA PREMA POWERTEAM 16 28:59.670 +28.842 157.1   14 26 Adrian QUAIFE-HOBBS BVM MINARDI TEAM 16 29:00.314 +29.486 156.5   15 24 Daniel ZAMPIERI BVM MINARDI TEAM 16 29:02.874 +32.046 156.3   16 17 Vasiliauskas KAZIMIERAS PREMA POWERTEAM 16 29:07.407 +36.579 155.5   17 44 Alex MORGAN FORTEC COMPETITION 16 29:07.805 +36.977 155.9   18 38 Luciano BACHETA HITECH JUNIOR RACING 16 29:08.177 +37.349 155.7   19 42 Daniel MCKENZIE FORTEC MOTORSPORT 16 29:09.409 +38.581 155.4   20 4 Ramez AZZAM SG DRIVERS PROJECT 16 29:11.835 +41.007 155.5   21 18 Patrick REITERER PREMA POWERTEAM 16 29:13.485 +42.657 156.2   22 30 Miguel OTEGUI IQUICK 16 29:14.890 +44.062 156.0   23 2 Pablo MONTILLA EPSILON EUSKADI 1 16 29:15.218 +44.390 156.5   24 21 Nathanaël BERTHON BOUTSEN ENERGY RACING 16 29:15.780 +44.952 156.0   25 39 Juan JACOBO HITECH JUNIOR RACING 16 29:16.356 +45.528 155.6   26 9 Carlos MUÑOZ EPSILON EUSKADI 2 16 29:17.202 +46.374 156.3   27 22 Kuba GIERMAZIAK TEAM MOTOPARK 16 29:28.446 +57.618 156.1   28 8 Roberto MERHI EPSILON EUSKADI 2 15 27:06.833 1 Lap 158.1     15 Miki MONRAS SG FORMULA 13 23:24.884   157.1     19 Adam KOUT KRENEK MOTORSPORT 12 22:10.507   155.4     32 Marcelo CONCHADO AMITER GALUPPO SPORT 12 22:29.644   153.3     41 Dean SMITH FORTEC MOTORSPORT 12 22:54.031   155.8     3 Richard CAMPOLLO EPSILON EUSKADI 1 10 18:18.927   156.0     31 Johan JOKINEN IQUICK 7 12:47.138   156.7     7 Albert COSTA EPSILON EUSKADI 2 3 5:38.134   154.7     23 Juan Pablo GARCÍA TEAM MOTOPARK 0