Driver Database News

After all the setbacks of recent race-weekends in the Renault World Series 3.5, Chris van der Drift was hoping for a problem free time at the new circuit of Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal over the weekend. And it was looking very promising with a front row start in the weekend’s first scheduled race. However the satisfaction of starting on grid two turned quickly into disappointment when the Kiwi was hit from behind in turn one just after race start. Race two brought the New Zealander more fortune, with a seventh place finish, and four points in the championship.

After having to contend with brake issues in the Thursday testing session, the team renewed the complete system in readiness for Friday’s practice and qualifying sessions. Despite a small gearbox problem, and a driver on a slow down lap, the current Formula Master Champion ensured himself of a Row One start for the first race, and a grid eight start for the second race, also held on the Saturday.

A possible win, however, was not to be. A hit from behind by team-mate Dani Clos in the first corner made it impossible to continue racing, leaving the New Zealander with no choice but to park his car in pit-lane. It later transpired that Clos had a problem with his gearbox attributing to the collision between the two Euskadi Epsilon team drivers. “I had seen that Dani wasn’t that close to me after the race had started”, said Van der Drift. “I chose to tuck in behind the leader heading into the corner, and suddenly I had a hard hit from behind by my team-mate. I couldn’t believe it. It was just so disappointing; it was quite possible to finish in a podium position even to win the race. Again more trouble for me. And the thing is it must also be so disappointing for the team, we could have both finished with a great result.”

Due to the hot temperatures at the circuit, several of the 3.5litre Renault motors expired during testing and others were found to be damaged and needed replacing. After qualifying, it was also found that the New Zealander’s motor was damaged and needed replacement. Due to the collision in race one, it was only in race two that it could be seen that the setup of the new motor was not ideal. “The car seemed to feel ok, but I was lacking top end speed”, explained Van der Drift. “The car was good in the corners but trying to slipstream down the straight to make a pass was next to impossible”. The Kiwi finally finished the race in seventh position.

The following World Series by Renault races are scheduled for the weekend of 18 to 20 September at the German circuit of Nürburgring.

Van der Drift sincerely thanks his sponsors: Racing Pool, National Meats Ltd, BMW Ekris, Arai Helmet en Oakley.

Chris van der Drift is proud to be one of New Zealand motor racing’s Black Bullets. To find out more about our Black Bullets go to www.blackbullets.com

Results: Race 1 :World Series by Renault 3.5, Portimao, Portugal, Saturday 01 August:
1 Jon Lancaster (GBR), Comtec Racing, 21 laps in 36:45.926
2 Bertrand Baguette (BEL), International Draco Racing, +0.568
3 Jaime Alguersuari (ESP), Carlin Motorsport, +1.110
DNF Chris van der Drift (NZL), Epsilon Euskadi

Results: Race 2 :World Series by Renault 3.5, Portimao, Portugal, Saturday 01 August:
1 Jaime Alguersuari (ESP), Carlin Motorsport, 22 laps in 37:57.020
2 Charles Pic (FRA), Tech 1 Racing, +1.448
3 Guillaume Moreau (FRA), KMP Group, +1.848
7 Chris van der Drift (NZL), Epsilon Euskadi, +5.696

Championship Standings World Series by Renault 3.5 after 13 races:
1 Bertrand Baguette (BEL), International Draco Racing, 110 points
2 James Walker (GBR), P1 Motorsport, 79 points
3 Jaime Alguersuari (ESP), Carlin Motorsport, 74 points
11 Chris van der Drift (NZL), Epsilon Euskadi, 33 points

Yet another weekend full of issues for Kiwi race car driver Chris van der Drift, but more importantly the speed in his Formula Renault 3.5 car showed an obvious improvement in pace over that experienced in the season to date. The gap in lap times to that of the front runners closed over the weekend, the 23 year old New Zealander now hoping that he gets a bit more luck in the next event to be held in Portugal. At the French circuit of Le Mans, Van der Drift lost his front wing when an errant driver came back on track un-expectantly in his path in race one, and in race two he received a 10 second penalty which he felt was unwarranted.

The progress the team had made since the previous race weekend was highly noticeable. From the first moments of the Friday collective test, Van der Drift was able to push and this resulted in the seventh fastest time of the day. With a feeling of anticipation, the New Zealander began the Saturday qualifying session, hoping to finish at least sixth fastest to go through to the superpole. While the gap to the front runners had shrunk considerably, this was not to be. “It’s a real pity we came so close to making superpole, but at least it is now only some 4/10ths off the best time. Earlier this season it was a good second off”, said Van der Drift.

Starting from 14th grid, the 2008 Formula Master champion had a fantastic race one start climbing up to eighth position after a couple of corners, and challenging for seventh with Marcos Martinez. However this short conflict finished badly for both drivers and saw the opportunity for points vanish, Van der Drift having to seek the pits for a new front wing and Martinez with a flat tyre. “We both braked late, but he left the track in doing so. As he came back on track he caught my front wing damaging it”, said the disappointed driver. After pitting for the front wing, the New Zealander found himself completely at the back of the field, but after a solid drive in the remainder of the race finally finished in 15th position, with lap times being close to those running at the front of the field.

That gave hope for the second race over 44 minutes plus a lap, and a compulsory pitstop, to be raced on Sunday. At the start of that race the New Zealander promptly gained four positions moving up into twelfth spot. Until the pitstops began, the Kiwi held his own in this position, racing as high as fifth before pitting himself for the mandatory change of two tyres. Once clear of all the pitstops the Epsilon Euskadi driver was in tenth position, and shortly later had ninth position.  However a set back was to occur in this race also. A car exiting pitlane just in front of the Kiwi had both drivers braking heavily going into the first corner, both leaving the track and cutting through the chicane. “We both went straight through the chicane, but only I received a ten second penalty. Race control wasn’t consistent today as more drivers missed a part of the chicane and they only received a warning”.

At that particular moment a time penalty would make no difference as the gap between the Kiwi and the next driver was more than ten seconds. But Van der Drift, together with the driver in front of him, caught a small group of drivers whose pace was slower than their own, meaning that those following also had a chance to draw closer. Eventually the New Zealander crossed the line in ninth, but was relegated to eleventh due to the penalty.

Despite the problems he had, the New Zealander had a good feeling over what was achieved over the weekend. “As regards race speed we are much better. I need to thank the team for that, we are finally near the pace of the front guys and we will now take what has been learned with us to the new circuit in Portugal. We have had enough problems, now we need to qualify for the superpole so that we can begin races from more in the front of the field. That should improve our chances and avoid the sort of problems we had this weekend”, said Van der Drift.

The following World Series by Renault races are to be held over the weekend of 1-2 August at the circuit in Portimão, Portugal.

Van der Drift sincerely thanks his sponsors: Racing Pool, National Meats Ltd, BMW Ekris, Arai Helmet and Oakley.