Top Ten For Epsilon Euskadi In Barcelona

The second collective tests of the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, that took place yesterday and today in Barcelona, have shown the substantial improvement within the team's performance, leaving behind the most of the setbacks that affected the team in Valencia last week. A winter working plan that prioritizes the team's preparation for the championship over an isolated fastest lap, the EPSILON EUSKADI team had its four members within the first eight in the overall standings. The fastest diver over the 23 on track was Daniel Mancinelli (1'43.691).

Epsilon test Credit: Eurocup 2.0

The blizzard that hit the whole country was particularly strong in Catalunya and Montmeló wasn't an exception. The "Circuit de Catalunya" woke up all covered in snow yesterday delaying the session's start until 2pm when the dangerous snow on the track and running areas melted.

Given the conditions, the EPSILON EUSKADI team decided to change their working plan and use the few hours left of track time on this first day to work on different car settings. The best classified EPSILON team driver was Giovanni Venturini, who finished just 0,389 seconds behind the top man Adam Kout (1'45.801). But like his three team mates, the Italian didn't use any of his new tires sets, while most of the other drivers did, leaving him three sets of unused tires for the second and crucial testing day. In spite of not getting the most out of his third and last set, Venturini finished in fourth position today, as the best team's representative.

Genís Olivé has really picked up his game through this testing days and, although there is a lot that needs to be done yet, especially in adapting his driving position to his height, he has finished just 8 thousandths behind his team mate Venturini. Alex Riberas, following his promising debut in Valencia, confirmed in this test that he is a driver to be kept in mind. Both yesterday and especially today, the Catalan driver occupied in more than one occasion the first position. In the end, he has seen himself beaten by more experienced drivers.

The down side was for Miguel Otegui. Second classified in the morning, Otegui saw his good progression thwarted when the engine of his FR2.0 broke down four laps into the afternoon session. However, his overall best time has finally entitled him the eighth position in the standings.

The next testing meeting for the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 will bring the EPSILON EUSKADI to France, to the Magny-Cours circuit, on the 15th and 16th March.

#3 Giovanni Venturini - 4th, 1'44.481: "Overall, I am satisfied with the work we have done during these tests but I have to say as well that I would have wanted to reduce my lap time even more. When we put the last set of new tires, the track was a lot cooler and, although I improved on the first sector, I couldn't finish it off. Regarding the car set up, we are doing a good job and I hope that we will improve even more at Magny-Cours."

#1 Genís Olivé - 5th, 1'44.489: "I felt a lot better here but we still have a few things to improve in order to take the final step. My position now is better and I feel a lot more comfortable but I would like to improve it even more. We tested quite a few different settings and dismissed a few ones but there are others that seem to be working. My lap times aren't excessively fast but the gap with respect to the top is smaller now. I am hoping to close this gap next week."

#2 Miguel Otegui - 8th, 1'44.678: "Since we couldn't test yesterday morning, we decided not to waste tires and work on the car, confirming that the changes with respect to Valencia were correct. And this work has given its fruits this morning with a consistent second position. Unfortunately, the engine broke down at the beginning of the afternoon session but the feeling is quite positive."

Imanol Zubikarai - Team Manager: "The snow altered our plans but I am pretty satisfied about how we worked. On the first day we decided to focus on preparing the car and the drivers for the second one and we didn't use any of the new tire sets. Working differently, with caution, instead of obsessing ourselves with a fast lap. This is the only guarantee to be ready. There is no doubt we could have got a better result but it was important to take another step forward and we did. And now we have to keep working in order to get an even better result in Magny-Cours."

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