PREMA Powerteam took two race wins in round 6 of the Formula Regional European Championship, clinching the 2020 team title with two rounds and six races still to go.
Oliver Rasmussen was the match-winner at Circuit De Barcelona-Catalunya, the 19-year-old Dane taking two wins in the two opening races of the weekend. Rasmussen vaulted to the lead with two perfect starts and never looked back, with two dominant performances followed by a fifth-place to wrap up the event.
Arthur Leclerc and Gianluca Petecof posted podium finishes too with the Brazilian retaining the lead of the driver championship, scoring a critical third-place finish in race 3, which followed a P5 and a P6 in the two opening runs. Leclerc captured second place in race 1. He then secured P5 and P4 respectively, trimming his championship gap down to just four points.
Jamie Chadwick had a challenging experience on another unknown venue for her. The 22-year-old reigning W Series Champion took P10, P9 and P10 respectively in the three races.
With the Ferrari Driver Academy combo of Petecof and Leclerc still leading in points, and Rasmussen in close pursuit, the fight for the driver championship remains wide open.
#6
OLIVER RASMUSSEN
“What a weekend! It was great to race in Barcelona, we know that it is a very difficult track but managed really well to come back in the championship race to the title. Scoring two wins in a single weekend is a personal best which I’m very happy with. This weekend really showed our improvements over the year and I hope that we will continue racing to be able to show some more!”
Qualifying 1: P3
Qualifying 2: P3
Starting Grid Race 1: P3
Starting Grid Race 2: P3
Starting Grid Race 3: P4
Fastest lap: 1’41.242
Fastest lap: 1’40.814
Race 1: P1
Race 2: P1
Race 3: P5
#10
GIANLUCA PETECOF
“We got a good ending for a tough weekend here in Barcelona. P3 in the last race meant capping it off with a podium and staying four points ahead in the championship. We struggled with the pace, and we were not able to find a rhythm for most of the weekend. We tried everything we could in the last race, and that paid off for us. Now we have the last two rounds, which will be tricky with the Covid-19 situation. We will keep working to get better and be able to fight for the championship.”
Qualifying 1: P7
Qualifying 2: P5
Starting Grid Race 1: P7
Starting Grid Race 2: P5
Starting Grid Race 3: P3
Fastest lap: 1’41.748
Fastest lap: 1’40.985
Race 1: P5
Race 2: P6
Race 3: P3
#14
ARTHUR LECLERC
“It has been a difficult weekend in Barcelona, we had a challenging qualifying where I didn’t put everything together. In addition, I struggled to follow the cars in front in races, and that caused big degredation. I will work and fully focus at it to come back stronger in Imola.”
Qualifying 1: P5
Qualifying 2: P4
Starting Grid Race 1: P5
Starting Grid Race 2: P4
Starting Grid Race 3: P5
Fastest lap: 1’41.300
Fastest lap: 1’40.979
Race 1: P2
Race 2: P5
Race 3: P4
#55
JAMIE CHADWICK
“Overall we had a tricky weekend with the results, but for a new track I was happy with the progress we made. It wasn’t easy by any means, but we made good steps forward. I’m just looking forward to hopefully having the last few races to continue with the progress we’re making.”
Qualifying 1: P11
Qualifying 2: P10
Starting Grid Race 1: P11
Starting Grid Race 2: P10
Starting Grid Race 3: P10
Fastest lap: 1’42.955
Fastest lap: 1’42.364
Race 1: P10
Race 2: P9
Race 3: P10