24 May 2015
Jazeman Jaafar triumphs at Monaco
Top rookie in the Principality in 2013 and podium finisher in 2013 and 2014, Jazeman Jaafar (Fortec Motorsports) was victorious this Sunday in the streets of Monaco and received the winner’s trophy from Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Renault. The Malaysian native scored his premier success in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series ahead of Red Bull Junior Team driver and best placed rookie, Dean Stoneman (DAMS), at the end of a wild race. Frenchman Tom Dillmann (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin) completed the podium. With the win, Jazeman Jaafar moves to the top of the general classification.
On the start grid, Jazeman Jaafar occupied the pole position with team mate Oliver Rowland (Fortec Motorsports) joining him on row one. Matthieu Vaxiviere (Lotus) and the DAMS duo of Nyck de Vries and Dean Stoneman followed.
Chaotic opening laps
When the lights went out, Oliver Rowland moved alongside Jazeman Jaafar, but the pole man held position. Slight contact between Oliver Rowland and Matthieu Vaxiviere resulted in a puncture for the Englishman and retirement for the Frenchman. The sudden slowdown caught out Nyck de Vries, Gustav Malja (Strakka Racing) and Tio Ellinas (Strakka Racing). After the accident of Alfonso Celis (AVF) at the swimming pool and the crash between Meindert van Buuren (Lotus) and Bruno Bonifacio (International Draco Racing), the race stewards brought out the red flag.
Jazeman Jaafar in control
Following the re-start behind the safety car, Jazeman Jaafar pulled away from his pursuers, Dean Stoneman, Tom Dillmann, Egor Orudzhev (Arden Motorsport) and Pietro Fantin (International Draco Racing).
The Malay went on to win ahead of the top rookie, Dean Stoneman and Tom Dillmann. Egor Orudzhev finished fourth, followed by Pietro Fantin and Oliver Rowland (Fortec Motorsports), sixth place after several spectacular over taking moves. Aurélien Panis (Tech 1 Racing), Sean Gelael (Jagonya Ayam with Carlin) and Alex Fontana (Pons Racing). Philopaz Armand (Pons Racing) claimed the final point scoring position after Nyck de Vries (DAMS) suffered a 10-second penalty.
Quotes
Jazeman Jaafar: “A win at Monaco is really special! I’m still buzzing! We had a problem that blocked us for a long time in the pit lane before the race, but as has been the case all weekend, the team did an amazing job to fix it. I had a really low-profile start, it was very tight with Oliver, but I managed to stay in front. Then, I quickly pulled away from Dean and all the hard work has paid off.”
Dean Stoneman: “To be at Monaco and feel the atmosphere and see the people in the grandstands is a dream came true. It was tough in qualifying after my mistake, but I moved on. I knew that in getting a good start, I could pick up a few places. At the first corner, I don’t know what it looked like from the outside, but it was fun from the inside! To finish second in my first race at Monaco is fantastic, even more so behind such an experienced driver as Jazeman.”
Tom Dillmann: “I was disappointed with seventh position in qualifying even if the balance was perfectible. I got an excellent start, but it is difficult to overtake before the first corner. I saw three drivers running abreast and I managed to avoid any problems. Once I was third, I had to ensure this first podium finish that comes in just the second weekend of racing for Jagonya Ayam with Carlin.”
Provisional general classification* : 1. J. Jaafar – 49 points, 2. O. Rowland – 48 points, 3. M. Vaxiviere – 37, 4. D. Stoneman – 33, 5. T. Dillmann – 27, …
*Subject to confirmation of the results following the technical and sporting verifications
