Antonio Felix da Costa in charge

The 2009 vintage of the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 keeps all its promises. At home, Albert Costa dominated the debates, but an exclusion for technical non-compliance with the control of his gearbox in the first race cost him dearly. Of course, he takes his revenge on Sunday and wins, for good this time, but the consistency of Antonio Felix da Costa pays off. He is leading the Eurocup FR 2.0.

Published on 20/04/2009 à 16:02

⁰ View comments)

From pole position, Albert Costa took off perfectly on Saturday. Behind him, James Calado scolds Nico Müller and takes second place. Nathanaël Berthon also benefits and is third, ahead of Müller.

Albert Costa adopted a high pace at the start of the race, which allowed him to quickly break away from his pursuers. Behind him, eight cars point wheel to wheel.

Jean-Éric Vergne is overflowing Kevin Magnussen for the gain of 8th place. He then attacks his teammate Miki Monras. At home, the Spaniard does not intend to give up. As a result, Jean-Éric Vergne, then Kevin Magnussen, took an excursion via the gravel trap. Vergne leaves in 12th place, while Magnussen retires.

Meanwhile, at the front, the gap between Albert Costa and James Calado, second, stabilizes at three seconds. The Briton's second position is coveted by Nathanaël Berthon and Nico Muller. Berthon came back strong at the end of the race and overtook Calado at the end of the pit straight. The Frenchman therefore goes second. In the next round, it was Nico Muller's turn to take the lead against Calado.

Leader from start to finish, Albert Costa was the first to cross the checkered flag. But he will be excluded from the race following technical checks, for technical non-compliance with the gearbox control. Therefore, all other competitors who have finished the race gain a position. Nathanaël Berthon wins his first Eurocup Formula victory on the green carpet Renault 2.0, ahead of Nico Müller and Antonio Felix da Costa.

Sunday, Albert Costa must redeem himself. He started perfectly from pole position and took control of the race, ahead of Miki Monras, Antonio Felix da Costa and Nico Müller, while several collisions disrupted this first lap and forced the safety car to intervene.

At the restart, Albert Costa retained his leadership ahead of Monras and Felix da Costa. Incisive, Antonio Felix da Costa found the opening and dislodged Miki Monras from second place.

Costa widens the gap lap after lap. At mid-race, the Barcelonan has more than four seconds ahead of second place, Antonio Felix da Costa. Leader from start to finish, Albert Costa made up for it after his exclusion the day before. The Spaniard won with more than seven seconds ahead of Antonio Felix da Costa and Miki Monras. By reaching the podium twice this weekend, Antonio Felix da Costa leaves Barcelona at the head of the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0.