FRECA: Tim Tramnitz secures his first victory in Race 1 at Barcelona
In a highly anticipated race, Tim Tramnitz emerged victorious in Race 1 of the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Tramnitz, representing R-ace GP, showcased his exceptional driving skills and claimed the top spot on the podium.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli of PREMA Racing faced a troubled start that costed him the P1, then followed then had to chase for the whole race and followed very closely, but he never had the chance to go and try for a move. The Italian displayed impressive speed and determination Antonelli secured a second-place finish, obtaining also the fastest lap of the race.
Kas Haverkort from Van Amersfoort Racing took full advantage of his experience on this track and delivered a great performance. Haverkort crossed the finish line in third place and get to celebrate his achievement on the podium. The race was filled with thrilling battles, and one of the major highlights was the intense competition at the start. As the lights went out, drivers fiercely fought for positions, resulting in side-by-side action and several close encounters. Tramnitz made a decisive move, managed to take the lead, and controlled the race until the end.
The race was then interrupted shortly after, when 2 MP Motorsport drivers collided into each other, causing both drivers, Sami Meguetounif and Dilano Van ‘T Hoff, to early retire from the race.
Lorenzo Fluxa, a Spanish driver representing PREMA Racing, started from the second row of the grid and executed a flawless start. Fluxa demonstrated consistency and determination, crossing the finish line in an impressive fourth position, just shy of the podium. He showcased his skill and resilience as he defended his position against intense pressure from his competitors.
Macéo Capietto, a talented Frenchman competing for RPM Team, engaged in an exhilarating battle with Fluxa for the fourth-place position. Despite his best efforts to overtake Fluxa, Capietto was unable to make a successful pass and settled for a commendable fifth-place finish.
Joshua Dufek of Van Amersfoort Racing displayed notable skill and determination, securing a solid sixth-place finish. Martinius Stenshorne, representing R-ace GP, staged an impressive drive after starting further down the grid. Stenshorne positively impressed with his racing abilities and determination, climbing several positions to finish seventh overall and claim the top spot among the Rookie drivers.
Nikhil Bohra of Trident concluded the first race of the Spanish Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine’s weekend in eighth position. Following closely behind, Michael Belov of G4 Racing delivered a solid performance, crossing the finish line in ninth place.
Laurens Van Hoepen, representing ART Grand Prix, rounded off the top 10 finishers, securing the final Championship point at stake in Race 1. One of the most exciting battles on the track was the intense fight for positions just outside the points zone between Rafael Camara of PREMA Racing in 11th place and Victor Bernier of MP Motorsport in 12th place. This captivating duel added further excitement to the race, highlighting the competitiveness of the series cosigned by Alpine and ACI Sport.
Tim Tramnitz: “I had a really good start and this helped me to secure the win. I think, pace-wise, I was a bit under pressure from Kimi all the race. In the end I tried to save the tyres a little bit and the take care about the rears especially. Everything worked well and I was able to win the race.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli: ”It was a fun race on one side, really disappointing on the other one. We had a really strong pace in the race, but I did a mistake in the start and I lost immediately a position. It was really hard to follow, I was able to stay close, but I wasn’t able to make the move.”
Kas Haverkort: “It was quite a good start. I came next to Antonelli, but I just couldn’t finish the move, but it is still quite good. Good points for me, and I showed a good pace in the race. I’m quite happy.”