It’s been a bittersweet Sunday for the AVF team at the Nürburgring, in the sixth round of the 2014 World Series by Renault 3.5. As the pack lined-up for qualfying 2, the team’s two drivers faced opposite fortunes. Despite they both showed good pace, they hadn’t the best luck in the wet Qualifying 2. Young Swissman Zoël Amberg scored 8th place although he definitely had the same pace of the leading pack, while 19-year-old Dutch female racer Beitske Visser was forced to content with 20th. As soon as Race 1 started, a multi-car contact got Beitske innocently collected and forced to retire. On the other hand, Amberg delivered a great start, getting around the back-up and installing himself in fifth place. As his pace was outstanding, the team opted for an early pit-stop to give him the chance to run in clean air and to gain some ground.
Despite most of his rivals did the same, Zoël scored the fastest lap of the race in 1:44.340 and put up a fiery battle for fourth place. Unfortunately, he had to deal with the lack of passing zones at the German track, settling for 5th place as the flag fell. On the other hand, his race day pace was blistering and that builds more confidence and momentum going into the summer break.
As well as all the other World Series Renault drivers, Amberg and Visser will now be off for a well-deserved vacation before the action goes back underway in September. The next stop for the series is the Hungaroring, Budapest, a track where AVF hopes to put together all the great indications and feedback gotten so far.
Zoël Amberg – Q2: P8 – R2: P5
“The start was very good and I focused in passing as many cars as I could without getting involved in the mess. We had a great strategy which featured an early pit in order to use the new tires in clean air. Unfortunately, the others saw us and did the same. Anyway I had a good pace, tried to move on Sirotkin but here it’s really difficult to pass. Anyway I’m happy and I look forward to the Hungaroring, a tricky circuit with many corners where I hope to keep on the good momentum”.
Beitske Visser – Q2: P20 – R2: DNF
“I had a really good start. I had managed to avoid the first contact and I was on the inside when I was hit by another car and forced to retire. I look forward to Budapest. I never raced there but will use the simulator to learn it…”.