Renger van der Zande

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Mixed feelings for Renger van der Zande in Spa-Francorchamps

Today’s race, the second race of the weekend in the British F3 championship at the Ardenne circuit in Spa was disappointing for Renger van der Zande. Racing in third place on a semi-wet track, Renger had his sights set on outmanoeuvring championship leader Daniel Ricciardo. However, the team’s order for Renger to slow down to allow second-placed team mate Grubmuller to go ahead caused the situation to change.

Published: Saturday 25 July, 2009

“An ill-advised decision” says Renger. “I could have made a far better contribution by preventing Ricciardo from a big points haul. Now he’s still leading the championship while my team mate made only marginal gains by being allowed to go ahead.”

In any case, it was a weekend of mixed feelings for the Mercedes Junior from Nijmegen. Yesterday’s race was dominated by an engine that refused to keep pace, although he did manage to finish in second place. In the data comparison with his quicker Mercedes colleagues Bottas, Bianchi and Grubmuller, it was perfectly clear that Renger had missed the top speed by 10 kilometres per hour on the straights. The others were driving with a new update to the Mercedes engine, while Renger was using a worn-out version. “They were flying past me on the straights”, explains Renger. The data also shows that Renger was faster into the bends for practically the entire race, by driving the car at its limits. “As a driver, I was racing much faster than the others,” says a cheerful Renger, “but then you see the effect of politics in privileged teams such as ART. At times like that, you wish that F1 teams also had access to this data“. Today, with a new engine, albeit of the old type, Renger could show what he was made of. And then came the decision to allow team mate Grubmuller to go ahead.

“I have no issue with acting in the interests of the team as it’s common practice at the top level of motorsport”, explains Renger. “But I’d do it in a more thought out-manner”.

 

It was a weekend that the lively Dutchman will want to quickly forget, although finishing in second and fourth place is hardly something to be ashamed of.

 

Nevertheless, Renger still goes away from the weekend with surprising news.

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