Canadian driver Robert Wickens clinched 2011 Formula Renault 3.5 title although he was forced to an early retirement after a contact with title rival Jean-Eric Vergne in the last round of the season presented in Barcelona.
Everything was settled at the start when, behind pole man Albert Costa, Robert Wickens (who started from 2nd position on the grid) and Jean-Eric Vergne (who started from 5th place) went side by side in the first corner. After a first contact, both cars collided more heavily, destroying Wickens’ suspension: the Canadian stopped in the pits at the end of the first lap.
Vergne was able to continue his race, but he quickly realized his car also sustained some serious damages after the accident. The Frenchman could not defend his position – loosing ground every lap – and finally retired at lap 17.
Wickens was crowned in the confusion.
In front, Costa set the pace from start to finish, and claimed hia maiden win in Formula Renault 3.5 ahead of Nick Yelloly and Brendon Hartley.
22-year-old Robert Wickens, from Toronto, clinched his second title after he was crowned Formula BMW USA champion in 2006. He also finished runner-up in Formula 2 (2009) and GP3 (2010).
Race 2 classification :
1 - Albert Costa - Epic - 26 laps in 45'50"549
2 - Nick Yelloly - Pons - 4"468
3 - Brendon Hartley - Charouz - 15"889
4 - Sergio Canamasas - BVM Target - 17"538
5 - Anton Nebilitskiy - KMP - 20"309
6 - Oliver Webb - Pons - 20"945
7 - Alexander Rossi - Fortec - 27"485.
8 - Walter Grubmuller - P1 - 31"486
9 - Daniel De Jong - Comtec - 40"242
10 - Arthur Pic - Tech 1 - 41"678
Etc.
Championship (final) :
1.Wickens 241 points; 2.Vergne 232; 3.Rossi 156; 4.Costa 151; 5.Ricciardo 144; 6.Korjus 120; 7.Hartley 95; 8.Canamasas 69; 9.Panciatici 55; 10.Move 54, etc.
Everything was settled at the start when, behind pole man Albert Costa, Robert Wickens (who started from 2nd position on the grid) and Jean-Eric Vergne (who started from 5th place) went side by side in the first corner. After a first contact, both cars collided more heavily, destroying Wickens’ suspension: the Canadian stopped in the pits at the end of the first lap.
Vergne was able to continue his race, but he quickly realized his car also sustained some serious damages after the accident. The Frenchman could not defend his position – loosing ground every lap – and finally retired at lap 17.
Wickens was crowned in the confusion.
In front, Costa set the pace from start to finish, and claimed hia maiden win in Formula Renault 3.5 ahead of Nick Yelloly and Brendon Hartley.
22-year-old Robert Wickens, from Toronto, clinched his second title after he was crowned Formula BMW USA champion in 2006. He also finished runner-up in Formula 2 (2009) and GP3 (2010).
Race 2 classification :
1 - Albert Costa - Epic - 26 laps in 45'50"549
2 - Nick Yelloly - Pons - 4"468
3 - Brendon Hartley - Charouz - 15"889
4 - Sergio Canamasas - BVM Target - 17"538
5 - Anton Nebilitskiy - KMP - 20"309
6 - Oliver Webb - Pons - 20"945
7 - Alexander Rossi - Fortec - 27"485.
8 - Walter Grubmuller - P1 - 31"486
9 - Daniel De Jong - Comtec - 40"242
10 - Arthur Pic - Tech 1 - 41"678
Etc.
Championship (final) :
1.Wickens 241 points; 2.Vergne 232; 3.Rossi 156; 4.Costa 151; 5.Ricciardo 144; 6.Korjus 120; 7.Hartley 95; 8.Canamasas 69; 9.Panciatici 55; 10.Move 54, etc.