PODIUM SPOT FOR QUAIFE-HOBBS IN HUNGARY
After a six week break Adrian Quaife-Hobbs returned to Eurocup Formula Renault action at the Hungaroring this weekend taking a superb second and seventh in the two races after setting the early pace in practice and qualifying.
The 18 year-old had once again been the pacesetter in Thursday’s test, the organisers slotting in an extra day to replace the earlier cancelled session. After making a few adjustments for Friday, Adrian posted the fourth quickest time, but remained overall the fastest from the combined times.
On Saturday Adrian was looking good for pole as the field headed out on track; however a bent front wishbone, which could not be replaced before the start of the session, meant his hopes were dashed. Despite that, when Adrian took to the track and with just two laps in which to set a time, the Tonbridge teenager posted the fifth and third quickest time just 2.5 tenths off the pole time.
“We didn’t know immediately that the front wishbone was bent and there just wasn’t time to replace it before the start of the session,” said Adrian. “Then when I went out knew I had just two laps on track in which to set a time so the pressure was really on. On my first attempt I spun and couldn’t restart it but finally we did and it was all a bit manic at the end but I’m happy with my performance.”
With the car repaired for the start of race one Adrian lined up on row three. However at the lights, suffering far too much grip on the hot track, Adrian stalled dropping to tenth. He then had to take avoiding action when a car alongside him spun out which dropped him to 14th.
A spirited drive and some superb overtaking manoeuvres moved Adrian up the field to finish seventh and post the second fastest lap of the race.
Race two faired better for the BRDC Rising Star after the Motopark Academy team changed the gears on his car allowing a better getaway off the line. Slotting into second at the lights, Adrian held off the pressure from Albert Costa to take second at the flag and move up to fourth overall in the points standings.
“The team changed the gears between races which helped a lot and I got a good start although not as good as Marco. He came across and I had to let him go and unfortunately it’s quite hard to pass here and although I was able to close up on him I just couldn’t get past.
“I’m happy with the weekend though, it was a bit of an up and down one and had the wishbone bent I could probably have got a podium in race one as well. That really affected the whole outcome of the weekend. But to get second here is a great way to end the weekend and considering the dramas in qualifying I’m lucky to have got any points.”
Adrian has just a week off before returning to race action, this time in the North European Cup rounds at Oschersleben in Germany. The following week Adrian will make his only UK appearance, at the World Series by Renault event at Silverstone.
Results of race One – 16 laps
- Jean Eric Vergne SG Formula 28:14.004
- Nathanaël Berthon Epsilon Euskadi 28:23.730
- Miki Monras SG Formula 28:24.898
- Antonio Felix Da Costa Motopark Academy 28:26.449
- Marco Sorensen Motopark Academy 28:38.534
- Carlos Munoz Epsilon Euskadi 28:29.768
- Adrian Quaife-Hobbs Motopark Academy 28:30.022
Results of race two – 16 laps
- Marco Sorensen Motopark Academy 28:21.654
- Adrian Quaife-Hobbs Motopark Academy 28:21.966
- Albert Costa Epsilon Euskadi 28:22.482
- Miki Monras SG Formula 28:23.035
- Kuba Giermaziak Motopark Academy 28:26.675
- Antonio Felix Da Costa Motopark Academy 28:26.862
Championship points after six rounds rounds: 1. Antonio Felix Da Costa 59, 2. Albert Costa 57, 3. Miki Monras 40, 4. Adrian Quaife-Hobbs 37, 5. Nathanaël Berthon 36, 6. Jean Eric Vergne 30.
