The Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 season is almost reached its conclusion. By winning his second race of the season, Motopark Academy’s Antonio Felix da Costa has held onto his chances for the championship title. Second, Epsilon Euskadi’s Albert Costa has increased his lead over third-place driver, SG Formula’s Jean-Éric Vergne. As we go into the final race of the season, the two drivers are separated by just four points.

It was a fine day at Motorland Aragón for the penultimate race of the year and the crowds had come en masse to watch the final showdown between Albert Costa, Jean-Éric Vergne and Antonio Felix da Costa. In pole position, it was da Costa who made the best start. Costa and Vergne were neck and neck into the first turn, but under hard braking, it was Costa who came out on top.
Motopark Academy’s Kevin Magnussen held fourth place, while behind him the fight for fifth place was tight. With Epsilon Sport’s Luciano Bacheta held off Motopark Academy’s Adrien Quaife-hobbs, Epsilon Euskadi’s Federico Scionti and SG Formula’s Miki Monras to the best of his abilities, the braking at the end of the start-finish straight was frighteningly close!
As da Costa, Costa and Vergne broke away from the rest of the pack, Kevin Magnussen and Luciano Bacheta were hot on their heels. Between Quaife-Hobbs, Scionti, BVM Minardi Team’s Dean Smith, Epsilon Euskadi’s Nathanaël Berthon and Motopark Academy’s Kuba Giermaziak, the positions changed with every passing lap. In tight formation, no driver was giving away the slightest advantage.

The three lead drivers were still neck and neck without being able to get the better of one another. Behind them, Bacheta was taken by surprise, dropping from 5th to 8th, as he was passed by Adrian Quaife-Hobbs, Federico Scionti and Dean Smith in quick succession. Bacheta then had to fend off the advances of Nathanaël Berthon, Kuba Germaziak and Carlos Munoz. The chasing pack was full of action. On the next lap, it was the turn of Adrien Quaife-Hobbs to lose a place to Federico Scionti under braking. Scionti was now fifth, with Quaife-Hobbs sixth. Next, Kuba Giarmaziak stole a place from Luciano Bacheta in eighth.

Up in front, the positions would remain the same. Da costa took his second win of the season and snatched a few more points from the duo of Costa and Vergne. Finishing second, Costa brought his lead to within four points at the entry of the last race. Mathematically, any one of these drivers could wrest the title.

Quote, unquote:

Antonio Felix da Costa: “After qualifying, we were very happy with our performance. Winning was the only way to go! I’m not racing one driver but two. My only chance for the title is to win tomorrow, that’s if Albert and Jean-Éric score no points. It was very difficult. I’m just going to concentrate on my race, to win one more."
Albert Costa: “For the moment, we we’ve done what we had to, that is, finish in front of Jean-Éric. I need to stay calm and continue on this course. I have a four point lead; it’s both a lot and not very much. I can’t wait for tomorrow. We'll see what happens..."
Jean-Éric Vergne: “First of I’d like to congratulate Antonio Felix da Costa, he was very quick today. The start was very close between Albert and me. I came very close to getting past him, but I found myself on the wrong side of the track, so he stayed ahead of me. We need to find a way to be faster tomorrow. I need to make up four points. It's not over yet, we can still do it. I need to go out there and fight tomorrow.”

forrás: renault - sport.com