Antonelli claims 2023 FRECA title at Zandvoort
Andrea Kimi Antonelli put up a scintillating performance today at Zandvoort to clinch the 2023 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine title with one round still to go. The weekend at the Dutch venue was treacherous since the start with constantly changing conditions. Strong winds and rainfalls came by the minute forcing the team to react extremely quickly.
After finishing race 1 in second place, Antonelli started from a P8 he got in a disrupted qualifying 2 session, and stormed to the lead in less than three laps. From that point on, even a lengthy red flag could not stop the 17-year-old Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team Junior Driver. After the re-start, he sailed off in the distance with a blistering pace to take the title. The Italian also secured his fifth win of the season in the process.
The ups and downs of qualifying compromised the outcome of the weekend for Rafael Camara and Lorenzo Fluxá. In a hard-fighting midpack, Camara finished in P7 in front of his Spanish teammate, with not many chances for passing available. In race 2, the Ferrari Driver Academy Brazilian ended up off-track due to contact, while Fluxá put up a sensational recovery from P16 to P8 which gives him good momentum looking forward.
After celebrating its second consecutive driver crown in FRECA, PREMA will chase the Team Championship next weekend in the 2023 finale at Hockenheim.
#7 - Lorenzo Fluxá
"Overall, I would say it was a difficult weekend because the conditions were changing a lot, and we always had to be very alert. I think we got a positive outcome, twice in the points with a double P8. It could have been much better as we had the pace to finish higher, but a few mistakes and the conditions compromised the situation a bit, and once you start behind at Zandvoort, it is really difficult to overtake."
#8 - Rafael Camara
"This weekend was a bit different compared to others and really tricky with the conditions. We were there in practice, but for Q1 the track was dry for the first time, and while we had the pace, a little mistake on my side prevented us from being at the front. Race 1 was a normal race for Zandvoort because it's quite difficult to pass here, and while we had pace to show, we couldn't move forward. In qualifying 2, we set our fastest time with the warmup lap which is a bit strange in a messy session where we couldn't do a proper lap. Still, we got a third row start. In the race, we had the pace to be in the podium, but I made a mistake which ended up with contact, and I had to retire. Now we just focus on Hockenheim, let's push to end the season well and make a good job."
#12 - Kimi Antonelli
"It feels amazing to be the 2023 FRECA Champion. It has been a long season and we fought really hard. We didn't have the best start, but we came back really strong. It is thanks to the team because we worked very hard and we did a great job. Claiming the title with a win today is fantastic. After the checkered flag I was crying, it was such a great mix of emotions. I was so, so happy and thanked everyone, from my engineers and mechanics to everyone who supports me every day. Now we will focus on Hockenheim, as we have a team title to fight for, and we want to finish the season on a high."