Shine and you'll go far!
Eurocup Formula 2.0 is a necessary step on the ladder leading to the
pinnacle of Motorsport. Some thirty cars are expected at Barcelona for
the start of the season. The 'old hands' are tipped as favourites, but
the rookies seem ready to play them at their own game. Everyone is
looking forward to the result of the first round of the season, to see
where they stand in relation to their rivals.
Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 is renowned for being the breeding ground for
the champions of tomorrow. Quite simply, standing out from all the other
hungry, talented young drivers is not a matter of luck and it is for good
reason that Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 has uncovered talents such as
Felipe Massa, Kimi Raikkonen, Robert Kubica, Gianmaria Bruni, Scott
Speed or more recently, Kamui Kobayashi, Felipe Albuquerque and Brendon
Hartley.
The field in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 gets younger each year. With an
average age this season of just 17, a good number of drivers have yet to
pass their driving test! This has done nothing to curb their agility on
the track, as collective testing at Barcelona, Le Mans and
Spa-Francorchamps proved.
Although no clear leader has come out of these first few sorties of the
season, the more experienced guys have certainly taken advantage of them
to shine. Albert Costa (Epsilon Euskadi) was fastest at Barcelona and Le
Mans, while at Spa-Francorchamps, before the snow came, Miki Monras (SG
Formula) showed what he was made of. The two drivers from Barcelona have
the advantage of starting the season at home on a track that they know
inside-out. However, Adrian Quaife-Hobbs and Antonio Felix da Costa of
Motopark Academy and Jean-Eric Vergne for SG Formula, will also be
serious challengers.
For these stars of last season, it is essential to chalk up points as
early as possible, as the new boys will be piling on the pressure! Even
though they are still getting to grips with Formula Renault 2.0, SG
Formula's Arthur Pic and Kevin Magnussen of Motopark Academy have matched
the more senior guys.
The Motopark Academy, Epsilon Euskadi and SG Formula teams have shared
the glory in recent seasons. The Spanish Iquick Valencia team seems
primed to upset the established order. Although Johan Jokinen and Patrick
Kronenberger are new to Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, both have some
experience with the car. Jokinen showed his class in Formula Renault 2.0
NEC, finishing fourth in the championship, while Kronenberger cut his
teeth in Italy.
Jenzer Motorsport has adopted the same strategy with Nico Muller, Genis
Olive and Fabien Thuner, three seasoned drivers with experience in
Formula Renault 2.0, who will be driving their first full season in
Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0.
The Czech driver, Adam Kout stays at Krenek Motorsport where he teams up
with Jakub Knoll. MP Motorsport is putting its stock in Nigel Melker and
Danial de Jong, while Epsilon Sport has cars prepared for Luciano Bacheta
and Arno Santamato. Finally, a new team this season, One Racing, will be
running two Italian drivers, Daniel Mancinelli and Federico Scionti.
-credit: wsr
