Monza 28th March 2004

Official Race Report

Report:© Copyright Renault Sport Technologies 2004 - All rights reserved

All winter the talk has all been about who would be able to live with Scott Speed (Motopark Academy), who crushed the competition in every test session. But on Saturday morning, at precisely 10:24 am, Pastor Maldonado (Cram Competition) gave us a first answer as he claimed victory in the first race of the year. And as first races go, this was a classic. The fight for the top spot and the podium honours raged hard over twelve laps, with drivers further down the field also looking to score as many points as possible. At the green light the field set off with all but a few of the cars on rain tyres. The track was drying, but Monzas first chicane  tricky enough even in the dry  was still wet at the start of the race. As things got underway, Speed (Motopark Academy) held onto his lead ahead of Grosjean (SG Formula) and Maldonado (Cram Competition). Behind these three the gloves were off between Walz (Motopark Academy), Meijer (AR Motorsport) and Duran, Maldonados team-mate. Kechele and Kofler had a coming-together, but by that time the lead men were already pulling away. Maldonado, who is used to this track, was all over the back of Speed very early on, his constant efforts finally paying off as he took the lead on lap four. That turned out to be the last his rivals would see of him until the scrutineering parc fermi. Meijer, Walz, Kochem and Duran all got past Grosjean without difficulty, and between them fought tooth and nail for the third spot. In the end, Walz managed to shake off the others and claim the last place on the podium. Kochem (Jenzer Motorsport) took fourth after a steady race, ahead of Duran (Cram Competition), Grosjean and Clairay (SG Formula). Another noteworthy performance came from Russias Petrov (Euronova Jr Team), who started 31st and carved through the field to 15th at the chequered flag. But award for the best comeback must surely go to Frances Simon Pagenaud (Graff Racing), who started at the back of the grid and fought all the way up to tenth. A sterling effort!

With race one barely in the bag, Venezuela's Maldonado (Cram Competition) already had his sights set on race two. From a place on the front row next to the ever-present Speed (Motopark Academy), he was clearly intent on outbraking his rival and being the first into turn one. In the event, he did it, but only after a wheel-to-wheel duel with the American, who certainly seems a very talented driver. Maldonado and Speed weren't the only ones treating us to fireworks at the start of race two. Also fast out of the traps was Austria's Kofler (JD Motorsports), whose amazing performance from the grid handed him a start he couldn't have dreamt about. However, the first lap wasn't even complete when the Safety Car appeared, as Alshin's and Mailleux's cars were in a dangerous position after spinning out. So while the wreckage was being cleared, the others played follow the leader. With the track now back in order, the Race Director gave the OK and let the lions back out of their cages! Speed, eager to get back the advantage he'd earned with the pole, got the hammer down early, overtaking Maldonado on the start/finish straight only for the Venezuelan to slip back through down the inside at the chicane! Clearly both hungry for the win, the two men scrapped it out from start to finish and put on a tremendous show, riding the rumble-strips and braking later and later. The same sort of aggressive driving saw Kechele (Motopark Academy) lose his nose cone after coming together with another car, while the race direction gave Speed a drive-through penalty, which put paid to the American's hopes of a win. Further back, the battle was intense. Moreau (SG Formula) took advantage of the incidents on the track to close in on race leader Maldonado, while fending off the German Kochem. At the chequered flag, Maldonado took his second victory of the weekend ahead of Moreau and Kofler, who had a fantastic race. Starting 19th on the grid, the Austrian fought his way up to the podium. And despite his surprise, he later admitted: ''I fully intend to do it again!''

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