Acceleration 2014 – NÜRBURGRING: NIGEL MELKER WINS FIRST FA1 RACE OF THE WEEKEND
The first Formula Acceleration 1 race at the Nürburgring was won today by Nigel Melker. The Dutch driver started from pole, but had to struggle to win this race. Mirko Bortolotti (ITA) was involved in a crash and was therefore very happy with his second place. Slovakian Richard Gonda qualified fifth and finished third. German Sebastian Balthasar, driving on his home track, was unlucky and had to stop his race after the first lap due to clutch breakdown. After the warm up lap, some of the FA1s stopped at the wrong box, which made the race director decide to start an extra formation lap. When the lights went off, Nigel Melker started from pole position, leading the field. Unfortunately he had a bad start, which led to three cars going into the first corner side by side. Melker said: “It was a crazy race. My start was not good, so I lost some positions. Then I saw Mirko Bortolotti and my team mate Alessio Picariello crash into each other after the first corner.” The crash made Bortolotti drop to tenth position.
When the mandatory pit stop had to be made and leader of the field Picariello went in, the whole field changed. Melker, driving third position at that time, declared: “When the pit lane opened, I got a call to go into the pit box. But then I saw my team mate go in and I decided to go in the next lap. Picariello’s tires were not ready, so he had to make two pit stops. I went in the pit lane together with Gonda.” Richard Gonda was the new leader at that time. Gonda said: “Unfortunately I lost some positions again after my pit stop. I have to learn that a bit more, but I hope that will come race by race.” Nigel Melker took advantage of that mistake, which led him to winning the race.
Italian Mirko Bortolotti pushed hard to come back from 10th position and was the last one to make a pit stop. He took advantage of Gonda’s bad pit stop too, to eventually finish on second place. Bortolotti: “It was incredible that I kept my engine running after Picariello drove into me after the first chicane. It destroyed my start and I ended at the back of the field. From there I started to push as hard as I could. For me it felt like challenging for the win of the season. I am really happy to be second, but pissed off at the moment to give my opponent enough room to crash into me.”
Results of the first race:
1 Nigel Melker (NED) — 18 laps — 29:07.011
2 Mirko Bortolotti (ITA) Team Ghinzani 8.754
3 Richard Gonda (SVK) Team Ghinzani 20.786
4 Alessio Picariello (BEL) 24.297
5 Armando Parente (PRT) 29.800
6 Michael Dorrbecker (MEX) 47.644
7 Oliver Campos (ESP) 1:17.047
8 Jimmy Eriksson (SWE) Performance Racing — 10 laps —
9 Dennis Lind (DEN) Performance Racing — 9 laps —
10 Picho Toledano (MEX) — 6 laps —
11 Sergio Campana (ITA) Team Ghinzani — 1 laps —
12 Sebastian Balthasar (GER) Performance Racing 0
Tomorrow, Sunday May 25th, the second FA1 will start at 15:45.
Live time results from the FA1 race, all other ACCELERATION 2014 championships and pictures are available via www.acceleration14.com/germany
