Formula Renault 3.5 Series Title Fight To Go The Distance

Robert Wickens endured a turbulent penultimate round of the 2011 Formula Renault 3.5 Series at Circuit Paul Ricard this weekend.  The Canadian left France recording his ninth podium of the season, courtesy of second place in Saturday’s race, but was dealt a blow in Sunday’s event, eventually finishing 19th and scoreless thanks to a puncture following contact by Spain’s Sergio Canamasas battling in the top-five.

Wickens (22) now holds a slender lead of just two points in the Driver Standings over title rival Jean-Eric Vergne (216-214).  A strong weekend for the home-favorite, combined with Wickens’ woes on Sunday, now means the title fight goes all the way to the wire next month in Spain.

Before Wickens had even turned a wheel in France his 34-point advantage over Vergne had been reduced by 10 points due to the Frenchman’s successful appeal of a penalty that had earlier cost him a victory at Monza back in May.  With his post-race time penalty now erased, Vergne was awarded 25 points for the reinstated win, instead of the 15 originally scored for third place.

Regardless, Robert’s early weekend form picked up where he left off in pre-season testing at the French track.  Fastest in Friday’s practice session, the Canadian, racing for Carlin, looked good for Saturday’s pole position before a yellow flag, having been two tenths of a second up on the timesheets, cost him his lap.  He would have to settle for fourth on the grid while Vergne grabbed the pole on home soil.

A good start from the second row of Saturday’s race promoted Wickens up to third place in his Marussia Motors-backed entry with his sights set firmly on the leaders.  As the race unfolded he was faced with the challenge of understeer though as he harried Spain’s Albert Costa ahead in second.  With his front tires losing grip, Robert’s charge was effectively thwarted and he held third through to the checkered after 25 laps.

A post-race inspection excluded second-place finisher, Costa, for an underweight car, subsequently promoting Robert up to second on the podium behind Vergne – just 17 points now separating the battling duo before Sunday’s outing.

Sunday morning’s qualifying session proved to be a wet-weather affair with conditions gradually improving towards the end.  Vergne ended up trumping the field again, the Frenchman beating out America’s Alexander Rossi for the pole while Wickens was left disappointed down in seventh.

Another solid start from Wickens saw the Toronto-born racer, and Marussia Virgin Racing F1 Reserve Driver, quickly into the top-five.  He remained there and was fifth following the mandatory pit-stops sandwiched between America’s Jake Rosenzweig and Sergio Canamasas.

It was the Spaniard who would ultimately end Robert’s challenge following an aggressive lunge into Turn 12.  Forced to pit with a puncture, Robert tumbled down the running order, eventually taking 19th at the flag but his pace was again evidenced with three laps faster than the rest of the field with his best lap over half a second quicker than anyone else.  Alexander Rossi celebrated his second win of the year followed by Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo and Vergne in third.

“Well it’s just a shame I was hit today and got the puncture”, stated Wickens after Sunday’s result.  “I’d been able to get up into fourth after a great start from seventh.  We were looking good for another strong points finish but at the end of the day I’m still leading the championship going into the final round next month so it’s not all bad!”

The ninth and final round of the 2011 Formula Renault 3.5 Series takes place in Spain at Circuit de Catalunya, just outside Barcelona, Saturday 8th to Sunday 9th October 2011.  For further information on the World Series by Renault please log on to: www.worldseriesbyrenault.com