Max Defourny was the hero of the 4th round of the much revived Formula Renault 2.0 NEC (Northern European Cup) at Spa-Francorchamps on the weekend of 24th to 26th July 2015. At home, the Belgian dominated the first race from pole position before finishing 2nd in Race 2. At the age of only 16, Max Defourny rises to 5th in the standings. He is also the top rookie in the championship which is at a particularly high level.
Defourny did not wait long before celebrating his first success in Formula Renault 2.0, a discipline where most of the major champions proved themselves. On the Spa-Francorchamps circuit that he particularly likes, Max gave his best from the first free practice. "With the ART Junior Team, we have prepared for the race this summer, seeking to better adapt the car to my driving. I want to thank them, as well as Morgan, my engineer and Kevin, my mechanic. The work paid off! Once on the track, I quickly had a good feeling and so it proved in the first qualifying session," stated the young Belgian hopeful.
On his second flying lap, he posted the fastest time with 2'18 "820. Max even hoped to improve on the next lap, but a problem with an electronic sensor prevented him from widening the gap a little more. In the second qualifying session, this time he posted 2'18 "330 and only the championship leader managed to overtake him.
First victory already in FR 2.0With full confidence and complete focus on his goal, Max Defourny achieved a perfect performance in Race 1. He says: "I made a great start and I immediately drove to widen the gap to prevent my opponents from using my slipstream. As the laps went on, my lead increased and I could manage my tyres for wear, unlike other drivers who saw their tyres deteriorate quickly. Eventually I crossed the finish line more than four seconds ahead of the 2nd. Pole position, fastest lap and victory, I could not ask for more. This is certainly my greatest victory since the beginning of my career, especially as it happened at home in Belgium! "
Top rookieThe next day it rained in Belgium on the Ardennes and Race 2 took a strange turn. "The race direction decided to start the race behind the safety car. As it was judged that the weather would continue, the "safety car" remained on the track for several laps before the red flag was finally shown. So I kept my 2nd place finish from the second qualifying session, but only 50% of the points were distributed. It's a shame, because I am very comfortable in the rain. I wish that the race could have proceeded normally so I could fight for victory."
With these 1st and 2nd places on the famous track used annually by F1, Defourny made the leap to 5th place in the championship in his first season in Formula Renault 2.0 NEC. In addition, he is currently the top rookie in the series.
Max Defourny will try to build on this result in the last three meetings of the season at Assen (Netherlands), the Nürburgring and Hockenheim (Germany).
