Recent News

Will battles to top ten finish at Hungaroring

Will Palmer showed fighting form on his first appearance at the Hungaroring with a strong performance in the opening race of the Formula Renault 2.0 NEC event last weekend (18/19 June), but was denied a repeat in the second encounter.

Unfortunately Will's first qualifying session was spoiled by a red flag soon after leaving the pitlane, and with just two chances to post a flying lap he would start the opening race from 17th place on the grid. Second qualifying was much more productive, with Palmer lapping two seconds faster. His best lap of the weekend so far placed him tenth on the grid for the second race. Although he was disappointed not to be higher up the grid after lapping just a tenth off fourth place, he did at least have the honour of being quickest within his R-ace GP team.

Despite starting well down the grid for the opening race, Will returned to the set up he used in the practice sessions. He put this to great effect, fighting his way up to a fine ninth place on a track on which it is notoriously difficult to pass, heading team-mate Max Defourny to the finish line.

With the chance to improve upon the opening race and a strong grid position, hopes were high for a good result in the second encounter. After an early safety car period, Will was challenging for ninth place on the outside of turn two. However his car was struck following a chain reaction when the 11th-placed runner tried to pass the duelling pair on the inside. This damaged the suspension on Will's Tatuus, and he was forced to limp home to finish 18th overall.

Double polesitter Lando Norris won the opening race, but retired from the second, handing victory to India's Jehan Daruvala.

Summing up the event, Will said: "Overall it's been a difficult weekend. We showed good pace in practice but didn't manage to put it together in qualifying, which made the races very difficult as overtaking is so hard in Hungary. We then bounced back well in race one, showing good pace and managing to move up eight places to ninth at the finish. Race two was a big disappointment, as while once again in the top ten and trying to make more progress, another driver tried a very aggressive move, which unfortunately damaged the suspension and meant I had to limp round to the finish. Now I'm looking forward to going back to Monza for the next round of the Eurocup. We had a podium there in the NEC round, so I'm confident we can have a good weekend."

Will's next race will be at Monza in Italy on 2/3 July as he returns to Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 action. The Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup season continues at Spa-Francorchamps on 29/30 July.

Formula Renault 2.0 NEC - Hungaroring - Race One Top-10
1. L Norris, Josef Kaufmann Racing, 13 Laps
2. V Romanov, Fortec Motorsports, +2.487s
3. F Habsburg, Fortec Motorsports, +3.089s
4. B Mirecki, BM Racing Team, +5.189s
5. R Shwartzman, Josef Kaufmann Racing, +5.838s
6. A Gill, Mark Burdett Motorsport, +7.538s
7. A Korneev, JD Motorsport, +8.150s
8. H Chaves, AVF by Adrián Vallés, +8.678s
9. W Palmer, R-ace GP, +8.993s
10. M Defourny, R-ace GP, +9.321s

Formula Renault 2.0 NEC - Hungaroring - Race Two Top-10
1. J Daruvala, Josef Kaufmann Racing, +14 Laps
2. R Shwartzman, Josef Kaufmann Racing, +1.427s
3. F Habsburg, Fortec Motorsports, +1.948s
4. H de Sadeleer, Tech 1 Racing, +3.499s
5. S Fenestraz, Tech 1 Racing, +4.482s
6. B Mirecki, BM Racing Team, +10.571s
7. M Defourny, R-ace GP, +11.041s
8. D Boccolacci, Tech 1 Racing, +11.501s
9. A Korneev, JD Motorsport, +11.982s
18. W Palmer, R-ace GP, +1 Lap

Latest Results

Latest Eurocup Standings