Maiden victory for Will Palmer and third title for Josef Kaufmann Racing in the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0

Robert Shwartzman (Josef Kaufmann Racing) led the way during the collective tests, but team mate Lando Norris (Josef Kaufmann Racing) went out at the right moment to take pole position at the end of a session perturbed by rain.

Always in the lead despite the interventions of the safety car, the 2016 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 champion made contact on the final lap with sixth-row starter Max Defourny (R-ace GP). Will Palmer (R-ace GP) was in the right place at the right time to pick up his first win in the category ahead of Hugo de Sadeleer (Tech 1 Racing) and Robert Shwartzman.

On a wet track surface, Sacha Fenestraz (Tech 1 Racing) took the pole for the Sunday race then converted that into his second triumph this season ahead of Lando Norris and Max Defourny. However, the French driver’s win wasn’t enough to stop Josef Kaufmann Racing from taking its third Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 team championship to join those won in 2011 and 2015.

Race 1 : 1- W. Palmer, GBR (R-ace GP), 2- H. de Sadeleer, CHE (Tech 1 Racing), 3- R. Shwartzman, RUS (Josef Kaufmann Racing) …
Race 2 : 1- S. Fenestraz, FRA (Tech 1 Racing), 2- L. Norris, GBR (Josef Kaufmann Racing), 3- M. Defourny, BEL (R-ace GP) …
General classification : 1- L. Norris 253 pts, 2- D. Boccolacci 200 pts, 3- M. Defourny 178,5 pts…

Three titles decided in the Renault Sport Trophy finale 

While Pieter Schothorst (Equipe Verschuur) was fastest during Friday practice, it was Steijn Schothorst (Equipe Verschuur) who won the pole for the Endurance race.

Never really threatened during a particularly action-packed first stint in the field, the Dutchman came into the pits with the lead, followed by his brother who clinched the PRO title to join Andrea Pizzitola in the record book. When the AM drivers took over, Fabian Schiller (Team Marc VDS EG 0,0) took the lead before getting caught out. Steijn Schothorst’s team mate Miguel Ramos (Equipe Verschuur) made the most of the opportunity to go on for his first triumph in the category on home soil. AM champion, Fabian Schiller all the same went to win the Endurance title with Markus Palttala. In the same race, his squad Team Marc VDS EG 0,0 assured its third title in its first season in the discipline.

In the Sprints, Fabian Schiller ended his season in style winning the AM race despite a minor off circuit excursion and contact with tyre wall. In the PRO category, Steijn Schothorst made the most of an epic opening lap to pull away and take the victory in the final race in the history of the du Renault Sport Trophy.

Endurance Race : 1- Schothorst-Ramos, NED-POR (Equipe Verschuur), 2- Palttala-Schiller, FIN-GER (Team Marc VDS EG 0,0), 3- Sathienthirakul-Rueda, THA-ESP (Team Marc VDS EG 0,0) …
AM Sprint Race : 1- F. Schiller, GER (Team Marc VDS EG 0,0), 2- F. Rueda, ESP (Team Marc VDS EG 0,0), 3- J. Beelen, NED (V8 Racing) …
PRO Sprint Race : 1- S. Schothorst, NED (Equipe Verschuur), 2- K. Korjus, EST (R-ace GP), 3- D. Fumanelli, ITA (Oregon Team) …
General classification PRO : 1- P. Schothorst 156 pts, 2- K. Korjus 111 pts, 3- M. Palttala 105 pts…
General classification AM : 1- F. Schiller 178 pts, 2- F. Rueda 141 pts, 3. F. Blomstedt 115 pts…
General classification Endurance : 1- Palttala-Schiller 87 pts, 2- F. Blomstedt 82 pts, 3- M. Ramos 78 pts…

Upcoming events

On Tuesday, the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 rookie tests will be held at the very same Circuito Estoril. Twelve drivers will be invited by Renault Sport Racing as the category regulars begin their winter testing programmes.