KMP Racing – World Series by Renault

For the first time of the year, KMP drivers managed to qualify their two cars in the top ten of the starting grid in race 1. They were on the way to both score valuable points during the Saturday race but encountered problems after the middle of the race: a drive-through penalty for Anton Nebylitskiy and a contact with another car for Victor Garcia.

During the Sunday race, Nebylitskiy, starting 12th on the grid, took benefit of his mandatory pitstop to take the 7th place of the race. Victor Garcia lost time by damaging his front wing in a first lap incident but then managed to set the 2nd fastest lap of the race. Even if results could have been better, KMP drivers showed a great pace during both races.

Next race is scheduled in September in Germany after a two months break. For the first time of its history, the German round will be held at Hockenheim. Three meetings are still remaining in the 2010 season: Hockenheim, Silverstone and Barcelona.

Race 1
1. Daniel Ricciardo (Tech 1) 28 laps
2. Mikhail Aleshin (Carlin) 13″758
3. Sten Pentus (Fortec) 29″710
10. Anton Nebylitskiy (KMP Racing) 1’03″345
12. Victor Garcia (KMP Racing) 1’06″716

Race 2
1. Sten Pentus (Fortec) 24 laps
2. Albert Costa (Epsilon Euskadi) 6″292
3. Mikhail Aleshin (Carlin) 8″921
7. Anton Nebylitskiy (KMP Racing) 14″523
18. Victor Garcia (KMP Racing) 43″834

Magny-Cours wasn’t new for the team as both KMP drivers have participated to one day of private testing on this track in March prior to the meeting. After one day of collective tests, where drivers focused their work on finding the best setup depending on the weather conditions, Anton Nebylitskiy and Victor Garcia continued to improve their qualifying form, respectively setting the 5th and 12th grid positions.

Rain hit again the Formula Renault 3.5 championship this year as heavy showers appeared two hours before the start of the Saturday race. Both drivers didn’t manage to finish in the points in these difficult conditions. Sunday race was again disappointing, even if Victor Garcia improved his best grid position by setting the 10th best lap, as a short rain fell on the starting grid, making the two drivers start with rain tyres, what wasn’t the most appropriate option as track quickly dried.

Race 1
1. Mikhail Aleshin (Carlin) 25 laps
2. Esteban Guerrieri (ISR) 14″891
3. Stefano Coletti (Comtec) 16″918
11. Anton Nebylitskiy (KMP Racing) 1’23″053
R. Victor Garcia (KMP Racing)

Race 2
1. Nathanael Berthon (Draco) 30 laps
2. Daniel Ricciardo (Tech 1) 0″250
3. Filip Salaquarda (ISR) 13″237
15. Victor Garcia (KMP Racing) 1 lap
R. Anton Nebylitskiy (KMP Racing)

After two free practice sessions dedicated to the learning of the Brno track, new for the team and its drivers, KMP duo managed to qualify theirs cars in the first half of the field for the first race. Anton Nebylitskiy made a impressive start from 10th to 5th position in the first lap before gaining two other places to set the first podium of the team. Victor Garcia had to retire after a spin when battling in the field.

Second race was however more disapointing: Nebylitskiy had to retire in the first lap after a collision while his teammate finished the race at the 20th position.

Race 1
1. Esteban Guerrieri (ISR) 25 laps
2. Brendon Hartley (Tech1) 1″904
3. Anton Nebylitskiy (KMP Racing) 2″994
R. Victor Garcia (KMP Racing)

Race 2
1. Esteban Guerrieri (ISR) 24 laps
2. Nathanael Berthon (Draco) 1″177
3. Filip Salaquarda (ISR) 5″681
20. Victor Garcia (KMP Racing) 54″733
R. Anton Nebylitskiy (KMP Racing)