Start Procedure Affects de Vries
press release
The second of the five rounds of the World KF1 Championship brought another victory for Nyck De Vries, but the overall result of the weekend did not fully reward the high performance level of the young Dutch karter and of his powerful Zanardi-Parilla - the conditions caused him some difficulties during the start. On the Spanish circuit of Zuera he is so fond of, the four races were not all rest for Nyck, who however maintains the lead of the World Championship.
Two poles out of two, four fastest laps out of four, but "only" one victory and one podium during the four races held on 23 and 24 July in Spain. But everything seemed to have got off on the right foot for Nyck De Vries.
"We worked really well during free practice with Tom, my mechanic, and Dino Chiesa, my team manager. I was very satisfied with my Zanardi chassis, which had the perfect setup for the special tyres provided by Bridgestone. I was also happy with the Parilla engines, which could express their full potential on this very fast circuit layout. I qualified pole already on Saturday morning.
"Then I won Race 1 with a comfortable lead. Unfortunately, things went bad in Race 2, when my engine stalled. Tom came to help me push my kart to the repair area. Then I could start again and concluded with a fourth place. Unfortunately sports officials said I had received external help, which is forbidden by regulations, and I was excluded from the race", commented Nyck.
In Spain, the International Federation has adopted a new start procedure. Drivers must start from the parc fermé and make a lap to reach the start grid on the track, in front of the grandstands of Zuera.
With the specific transmission ratio adopted for this circuit and the soft tyre rubber laid down on the track, which is slightly uphill in that point, Nyck had a hard time trying to start his kart since the clutch was operating in difficult conditions.
The problem Nyck faced in Race 2 resurfaced on Sunday morning during Race 3. Again, Nyck De Vries started from last place. But then he began a series of fastest laps in the race and made his way to 7th. "Starting from this place in Race 4, I thought I could win. But then I got caught in a crash at the start and I found myself again at the back of the pack".
Then Nyck aroused the enthusiasm of the spectators with a stunning recovery drive, with lots of passing. And finally the fastest driver on the track managed to conquer the third step of the podium on the very last lap.
"After my four victories in Germany, in June, I still have a 17 point lead in the Championship and I am going to do everything I can to widen that gap in Belgium, in early September. Meanwhile I am focusing on the WSK Euro Series final round, which I hope I can win this year". And the meeting will be held again in Zuera...
