Rupert Svendsen-Cook took a double podium this weekend, following a stunning weekend in his Formula BMW Europe race car around the Silverstone GP circuit in Northamptonshire.
In front of an enthusiastic Grand Prix crowd, Svendsen-Cook took two third place finishes at his and the Räikkönen Robertson team’s home event.
Starting the fifth Formula BMW Europe race of the season from sixth on the grid on Saturday, Svendsen-Cook demonstrated a determined drive through the field, pushing his way up to third place, with a great overtaking manoeuvre on former team mate Michael Christensen. While Christensen was challenging for the lead in the final corner on lap 11, Svendsen-Cook kept close to the front runners and was able to take advantage of the action ahead of him as he passed Christensen across the line at the start of lap 12. Maintaining the third place to the chequered flag, Svendsen-Cook went on to take his first podium in the European series, while team mate Gregoire Demoustier was 16th, with Gary Thompson 18th.
Taking place on the morning of the British Grand Prix, race two at Silverstone was also a chaotic affair. Starting from third on the grid, Svendsen-Cook held his position off the line and maintained his place for the duration of the race – despite a safety car period which bunched up the field and a subsequent restart. Crossing the line to take his second podium of the weekend, Svendsen-Cook was also the lead Räikkönen Robertson driver, with Thompson 19th and Demoustier was 21st following 12 hectic laps around the Silverstone GP circuit.
Speaking about his weekend, Svendsen-Cook said, “It’s a dream come true to finish on the podium twice in my home race, I am so pleased to have taken two podium places. We had a pretty tough start to the season, but the results weren’t reflective of our pace. I think we had the pace to be on the podium last weekend in Zandvoort, but unfortunately circumstances went against us.
“Silverstone was just great from the outset, we were on the pace from the beginning – from the first practice session – and we built on that throughout the weekend. Not only was I quick in qualifying, but in the races as well, so it’s given us a great confidence boost. There are some great tracks ahead of us on the calendar, so I can’t wait to see what else we can do this season.”
Team Principal Anthony Hieatt added, “Rupert did a fantastic job this weekend. Formula BMW Europe is a very difficult championship in which to consistently do well – so to finish on the podium in both races this weekend showed that he really is on top of his game at the moment. Gregoire and Gary didn’t see quite the same level of success, but I think that is partly, especially in the case of Gary, due to the very aggressive style of racing in the mid field in Formula BMW. I think the European style of driving is very different to where Gary normally races in Asia, but I’m sure he’ll quickly get used to that with more racing in Europe.”
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