Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS

ONE WIN EACH IN MISANO FOR AITKEN AND HUGHES FOR A TEAM KOIRANEN GP DOUBLE   

Jack and Jake rule in Misano. One win each for Aitken and Hughes, that granted a double to Koiranen GP in the sixth and penultimate round of the Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS. Now only few points divide the leader Hughes from his team-mate. Twice second is the Russian Matevos Isaakyan, who kept high the JD Motorsport colors strengthening his third place in the championship. Another protagonist of the weekend was the Indian Jehan Daruvala (Fortec Motorsports) who managed to seize both pole position (the Saturday’s one was his first ever pole) and managed a P3 in Race One and a P4 in Race Two where the last podium’s step was taken by the Isaakyan’s team-mate the Brazilian Thiago Vivacqua. Once more among the most consistent drivers the Austrian Stefan Rien er (Koiranen GP), who finished sixth and fifth. The weekend could have gone better for Vasily Romanov (Cram Motorsport) who impressed in Race One scoring a P4 ahead of Hughes but also spun in Qualify 2 forcing him on the back of the grid of Race Two. Thumb up for the two GSK Grand Prix drivers Daniele Cazzaniga and Denis Bulatov that managed a P8 finish as best result.

Race 1 - At the green light both Aitken and Isaakyan pass the poleman Daruvala closely chased also by Romanov. The Russian too manages to pass by the Indian already in Lap 1 who thus is fourth at the beginning of the second lap. Behind him Riener overtakes Vivacqua while Hughes is still in P7 as at the start. Promising start from Cazzaniga who manages to recover from P11 to P8 with Pronenko and Korneev roaring behind. With 9 minutes to go Daruvala takes third on Romanov. Hughes achieves P6 passing Vivacqua. In the meantime Isaakyan closes the gap from Aitken and looks for the right gap. The Koiranen GP driver however defends his lead till the flag. A promising podium finish for the debuting in Misano Daruvala.

Race 2 - Daruvala is once more under the spotlight. After having set the pole, the Indian driver is once more passed during the first lap by both Hughes and Isaakyan. Vivacqua is fourth chased by Riener. The Safety Car is called in for the car driven by Korneev stuck at the Quercia Turn. The race is restarted two laps afterwards with Isaakyan that puts pressure on the leader. Yet another contact follows, this time between Cazzaniga and Hamprecht. Pronenko is sixth ahead of Aitken who however manages to overtake his rival who slows down and is passed also by Bulatov and Romanov capable, the latter, of an astonishing recover form the back of the grid. At lap 7 Vivacqua takes third on Daruvala. Romanov reaches seventh. Hughes leaves no way to Isaakyan and takes the flag. Vivacqua as well closes every gap and takes a deserved podium. Aitken is sixth. He was penalized on the grid with two places for an incorrect maneuver in qualify.

  After Race 2 the engines of Aitken and Isaakyan have been shipped to Oreca for further investigation, so the results are “sub iudice”. The next and final round of the Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS will be held on the 10/11 October weekend in Jerez.

The Championship (top 5): 1. Jake Hughes GBR (Koiranen GP) 204; 2. Jack Aitken GBR (Koiranen GP) 192; 3. Matevos Isaakyan RUS (JD Motorsport) 181; 4. Stefan Riener AUT (Koiranen GP) 173; 5. Thiago Vivacqua BRA (JD Motorsport) 167.


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