Andrea Pizzitola (Manor MP Motorsport) started from second and before the first corner overtook Ukyo Sasahara (Euronova).
Polesitter Louis Delétraz set the pace direct after the start. Behind him in the second chicane it was Aurélien Panis (ART Junior Team) and Roy Geerts (AVF) who touched and both were out of the race. In the first three laps of the race there were a lot of battles, unfortunately not always without consequence; ten drivers did not finish the race.
For second and third place the battle was between Sasahara, Pizzitola (Manor MP Motorsport) and Swiss driver Levin Amweg (ART Junior Team). Pizzitola lost and regained his position from Amweg, who in turn could not stand the pressure from fifth placed Steijn Schothorst (Manor MP Motorsport). Amweg finished fourth.
Ukyo Sasahara tried to catch Louis Delétraz but had to be satisfied with a second place. Louis, the son of the former Formula 1 driver Jean-Denis Delétraz, celebrated with a 0,8 second gap his first win in the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup. Behind Ukyo Sasahara it was Andrea Pizzitola in third place on the podium.
Alex Albon (KTR) finished sixth behind Amweg and Schothorst. Seventh finished Kevin Jörg (Josef Kaufmann Racing) who will start from pole in tomorrow’s second race. From 20th on the grid it was Raoul Owens (Mark Burdett Motorsport) who moved up to finish 8th. Because of technical difficulties he only did his first full laps in qualifying.
Tomorrow (Sunday 13th April) the second race is at 09.55 hrs. Again to see live at www.formularenault.tv
Live timing is on: http://static.sportresult.com/federations/fia/app/?CLASS=Formula_Renault_20_NEC
Louis Delétraz #17 (Josef Kaufmann Racing): “I had a very good start and could really push. That was very important. Ukyo came closer at the end of the race but I concentrated on my own race. All went really well and I am very happy.”
Ukyo Sasahara #46 (Euronova): “It is a great start of the season for me. I was successful in karting but that does not mean it is the same in formula cars. Today it was my first race in a formula car and it was fantastic. I have to learn a lot but that is good. Tomorrow I will start from 4th and already looking forward to it.”
Andrea Pizzitola #12 (Manor MP Motorsport): “At the start I overtook Ukyo and I came very close to Louis. He pushed me a little to the side but that was ok. Later in the race I had to fight really are and lost a little. But I am on the podium so that is good.
Lars Kaufmann (teammanager Josef Kaufmann Racing): “It is Delétraz's second year in the FR2.0 and he did a super job. He had a perfect start and led the race from start to finish. I can't say anything else but that the team is super happy.”
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