PDB Racing Team took part to the World KF1 Championship at Muro Leccese knowing they could do well. And so they did! Peter de Bruijn’s
team powered by Parilla engines was led by Manuel Renaudie, sided by Matt Truelove and Florian Alfano.
Manuel Renaudie did a superb job in qualifying heats finishing 6th in heat 1 and 3, and 5th in heat 2, allowing him to start 8th in the prefinal. On lap 1, the French driver had a great start making up 3 positions. After fighting hard with Bollingtoft and Foré in the early stages, and with Parrott and Convers in the last few laps, Manuel managed a good 7th, also setting the fourth fastest lap of the prefinal. In the final, Renaudie kept his head cool at the very tight first corner, with 34 drivers all looking to gain places.
The fight was on, this time with Bollingtoft and Laine. After swapping places several times, Manuel posted the 3rd fastest time of the final, gained lap after lap on Foré and nearly got past him by the end, finishing only 0”038 behind the four time World Champ in 6th. Good performance also for Brit Matt Truelove, who gained six positions taking the chequered flag right behind his teammate.
In the World Cup for KF2, Brit Tom Grice and Finn Leopold Ringbom went through to the prefinal, with the English starting the prefinal
from 7th. Bad luck for Swede Viktor Oberg, just out of the 34 finalists. After a promising start, Grice seemed able to fight for the win, jumping behind the leader on lap 2. The fight was fierce and the English driver ended in 4th, with his teammate Ringbom making up a stunning 18 positions. But the final was somewhat harder, as the English lacked the pace to stay upfront ending 11th, also past by Ringbom who had another great performance as he moved in to finish 8th, after starting the pre-final in 34th.
“We worked very hard during the season, and we started preparing for the World Championship in early July, particularly on the chassis", says Peter de Bruijn. Of course I cannot be completely happy because of the lack of results, but I can say satisfied with the job of my drivers and mechanics. We must develop our test program, and work harder than we did. We have a good project with Renaudie, who will stay with us for at least another season, and I believe we will be in the position to do well next season.” |
