22 October 2013
Home boys Sainz and Pons set the pace
Carlos Sainz (Pons Racing) stole the show on the first of two days of Formula Renault 3.5 collective testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Tuesday. The Spaniard dominated both sessions, posting the day’s fastest time of 1:29.652 in the morning. Meanwhile, 2013 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 champion Pierre Gasly (Tech 1 Racing) completed his first laps in the discipline.
A total of 26 drivers and 13 teams took to the track on Tuesday as preparations for the 2014 campaign began. On duty were seven members of this season’s Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 field, who were getting their first taste of life in Formula Renault 3.5, among them Pierre Gasly, who won the title here in Barcelona two days ago. Also taking part were the respective European and British Formula 3 champions Raffaele Marciello (DAMS) and Jordan King (Carlin), as well as a clutch of GP2 Series drivers, including Stefano Coletti (SMP Racing by Comtec), and several regulars from the newly concluded Formula Renault 3.5 season.
Following an impressive start by Carlos Sainz, Will Stevens (Strakka Racing) and William Buller (Arden Caterham) swapped fastest times in the day’s opening session, only for the Red Bull Junior Team driver to move back to the top of the sheets before the halfway stage with a time of 1:29.652. The Spaniard would stay there for the rest of the morning, with Nico Muller (Arden Caterham) and Matias Laine (Strakka Racing) completing the top three. Raffaele Marciello (DAMS) and Jann Mardenborough (Carlin) were the leading rookies, both figuring among the leading ten drivers.
Strakka duo Will Stevens and Matias Laine dictated terms at the start of session two, but when the pace picked up in the final hour it was Carlos Sainz who took control again, the Spanish driver ending the day just as he had begun by heading Nico Muller and Matias Laine on the timesheets. Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 racer Oscar Tunjo (Lotus) was sixth-fastest, with Raffaele Marciello and Oliver Rowland (Fortec Motorsports) also figuring in the top ten.
What they said:
Carlos Sainz: “It was almost a perfect day and I’m very pleased. We worked well with the team. I’ve always thought that Pons Racing is a solid outfit. They’re friends of mine and I really want to do a good job with them. It’s great to see everyone so enthusiastic and committed. I’ll be driving with DAMS tomorrow and I’ve got some good memories of being with the team, having tested with them a year ago at Motorland Aragon. I’m really looking forward to it. They’re a great team and they’re one of my main options for next season.
Pierre Gasly: “We’ve done some very constructive groundwork for 2014. Everything’s new to me and I’ve learned an awful lot because you need to rethink the way you drive. What hits you most are the aerodynamics. The speed going through the corners is incredible. I still haven’t pushed it to the limit yet and there’s still a lot to learn, but I’ve got a good feeling. Taking away the traffic and the mistake, I think I can do even better.”
Stefano Coletti: “This generation of cars is a lot more fun to drive than the old one. There’s more downforce and the manoeuvrability is excellent. We put in some good work and made the car very competitive. I didn’t put the new tyres on this morning and when I went with them this afternoon things didn’t go absolutely to plan. I’m sure our work will pay off tomorrow and we’ll be in front.”
