F.RENAULT 3.5 RACE 2 – I.S.R. ENDURES EVENTFUL SUNDAY IN BUDAPEST

After the podium finish clinched yesterday with Sergey Sirotkin, the Budapest Sunday didn’t bring ISR the same joy. The day started on a positive note as a warm sun replaced Saturday’s rainy clouds, but despite that conditions still proved to be difficult, as the track remained green and slippery. Struggling for both lateral grip and traction in Qualifying, Sirotkin and Christopher Zanella closed the morning session in P12 and P15 respectively, a result that didn’t bode well for Race 2 as Hungaroring is renowned as a track where overtaking is a nearly impossible task. Things didn’t get better when both drivers experienced a difficult start, losing ground and then getting involved in midpack fights that didn’t allow them to unleash all their potential. Sergey and Christopher managed to keep their mind cool and didn’t incur in any driving mistake, but despite that they couldn’t do better that taking the flag in 12th and 19th place respectively. Sergey Sirotkin: Q2 – P12; R2 – P12 “I tried a new starting procedure using both the two clutch levers we have on our steering but it didn’t work as it did in Practice and my getaway was awful. I lost many places and then making them up throughout the race was really difficult and stressful, especially as my right rear view mirror got loose and I couldn’t control drivers behind me. That allowed Martsenko to pull a surprise attack when I exited the pits, and made my life difficult in the second part of the race”. Christopher Zanella: FP1 – P2; FP2 – P3 “At the start I had an issue with the dual clutch too, and from then on I knew my race would have been a difficult one, as you don’t have any room for overtaking on this track. Furthermore, I lost a lot of ground at the pit-stop, and that didn’t make my day easier. It’s a pity, but bad days are part of racing. Now I’m looking forward to the next round in Paul Ricard”.