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PictureSean Driscoll |
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This
weekends two Formula Renault V6 Races at the technical Valencia
circuit were really only about one driver, Britain’s Robbie
Kerr. Robbie was consistently the quickest driver on the track all
weekend, and his free practice pace promised much, unfortunately
qualifying problems left Kerr in a lowly 13th and 15th position
to start the races.
In
the Saturday Grand race, Robbie charged up the field, moving from
13th to fourth in a matter of 9 laps, coming in for his compulsory
pitstop he was only five seconds behind the leader, only for a sticking
wheel to ruin his stop, costing him 25 seconds compared to the other
competitors. Rejoining back down in 15th place, Robbie set about
the task ahead of him to pass car after car, finishing back up in
seventh place, only 17 seconds behind the eventual winner, proving
that a win would have been possible.
Robbie’s comment “The racing was fun, and its great to
prove that I can pass anybody, although to say I am disappointed
would be an understatement. The pitstop problem was one of those
things, sometimes wheels stick when being changed.”
Sundays
sprint race looked even more of an uphill struggle, with two more
cars to pass from Robbie’s 15th on the grid starting position,
but 10 less laps to do it in. Pre season title favourite, Sauber
test driver, Neel Jani would start alongside Robbie in 16th, promising
fireworks from both drivers. A lightning start and full commitment
saw Robbie charge up to 8th after 4 corners, and finish the first
lap in 7th, having passed an astonishing 8 cars in one lap. Keeping
his head down and charging Robbie set the races fastest lap on lap
5, and got into second place with about two thirds of the race gone
and slowly kept drawing ever closer to Ryan Sharp who had led from
lap 1. Entering the last lap Robbie was still a second behind Ryan
but produced one of the most astounding laps to take the lead on
the last corner of the race and take the win. Watching journalists
commented on it being one of the most amazing race wins they had
ever seen, and surely proof that Robbie is truly a World Class driver.
Jani came home 10th having struggled to make progress. The podium
was heartening for British fans with Ryan Sharp and Robert Bell
taking the other two steps. During this weekend Robbie overtook
an amazing 30 cars in 50 laps of racing.
Robbie’s
Final comment on the weekend “ That was brilliant, it always
feels good to win, and its great to overtake so many times, but
it would be nice for us to start at the front and make things a
bit easier. The team worked so well this weekend, it was good for
them that my teammate won Saturdays race, so they have a double.
We can go to Magny Cours in two weeks time knowing that we can win,
so that has got to be good for the whole team.”
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