Dutch driver Rocco Coronel got off to a strong start in this year’s Formula 4 programme. In the first race weekend of the Formula Winter Series by Gedlich Racing at the former Grand Prix circuit of Estoril in Portugal, the 15-year-old driver from Eemnes in The Netherlands won the second race. In the other two races, he finished twelfth and 17th respectively in a field of 31 drivers. « A new circuit, fast times, changing conditions with a lot of rain and a nice victory, but also some difficult situations, partly due to decisions made by race control. Unfortunately, that’s part of it. In any case, I learned a lot, » said Coronel.
The race weekend at the circuit near the Portuguese capital Lisbon started with a total of five test sessions across Thursday and Friday, in which Coronel, competing for Van Amersfoort Racing, was consistently in the top four and finished at the top once. « There was a lot of storm and rain, which caused many incidents and the sessions were often interrupted by red flags when drivers went off the track, » said Coronel. « On Friday evening, we went to an indoor padel court where we enjoyed some sport. »
On Saturday, two qualifying sessions were held late in the morning. In the first qualifying session, the fastest lap counted for the starting grid of the first race and the second fastest lap was used to determine the grid positions for the second race. The second qualifying session, immediately afterwards, decided on the grid positions for the third race. Qualifying was held on a wet track, and Coronel also had the disadvantage of a position all the way down the pit lane, which never helps with so many cars on the track. Because there were also red flags after incidents, it was virtually impossible to achieve a fast time. He was unable to achieve more than 24th place, but ultimately, following a decision by the race officials, he was allowed to start 17th in the first race on Saturday afternoon. « It was all a bit difficult to understand, and the race was also utter chaos with all kinds of incidents and safety cars. We were only able to race freely for half a lap, but at least I was able to make up some places and finished twelfth, » reported the Dutch driver.
The second race, which took place on Sunday morning and in which Coronel started sixth, went a lot better. « I had a really good start, I was very careful not to have any wheelspin and that worked perfectly, allowing me to make up places immediately and move into second place, » he said afterwards. « Shortly afterwards, I was able to take the lead and pull away a bit. Dries van Langendonck put me under quite a bit of pressure, but I defended my position. There were two safety cars, but each time the restart went well and I was able to pace it nicely. It was also a matter of cooling the tyres, because the track was drying out more and more. That worked out fine and so I was able to take the victory and also post the fastest lap time of the race. Really happy! »
During the race on Sunday morning, it was dry, but for the third and final race, dark clouds gathered over the circuit again and, sure enough, it started raining again shortly after the start. Coronel had another good start, but then confusion arose because the race organisers had explicitly announced in advance that the race would be interrupted with a red flag if it started to rain during the race. Some smaller teams changed tyres, but teams with multiple cars, such as Rodin and Van Amersfoort Racing, counted on the agreements made being honoured. Despite the rain, however, the red flag did not come out, and so Coronel ultimately finished no higher than 17th place. « No points, but fast times and a positive weekend overall, » Coronel concluded. « The speed was really good, the victory is in the bag and I’m already looking forward to next weekend! » That will be held from 5 to 8 February at the Autodrómo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão, again in Portugal.
Calendar Rocco Coronel
5 – 8 February – Formula Winter Series – Portimao
12 – 15 February – Formula Winter Series – Valencia
20 – 22 February – Spanish Winter Championship – Portimao
27 February – 1 March – Spanish Winter Championship – Jarama
13 – 15 March – Spanish Winter Championship – Aragon
10 – 12 April – Spanish F4 Championship – Valencia
5 – 7 June – Spanish F4 Championship – Portimao
19 – 21 July – Spanish F4 Championship – Aragon
7 – 9 August – Spanish F4 Championship – Madrid
25 – 27 September – Spanish F4 Championship – Jerez
9 – 11 October – Spanish F4 Championship – Navarra
6 – 8 Novemer – Spanish F4 Championship – Barcelona