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After the inaugural 2014 round at Imola,
the Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS series
lined-up for three tight rounds that
defined the shape of the championship
even further than Round 1. At Pau,
Spielberg and Spa-Francorchamps the
series discovered the names of its top
contenders for the title. The three
prestigious and selective tracks
showcased the skills of the most
competitive talents, and Spa and
Spielberg have of course made the
history of Formula 1. Many motorsports
greats fought their way there and right
because of the peculiar difficulties their
races have become epic. For the series’
young drivers, racing on this kind of
track meant fortifying their experience
and it’s something that will prove
extremely useful in the rest of their
careers, when they will be back running
there with more powerful car and in
more complex environments. Spa-
Francorchamps created tons of
excitements up the Eau Rouge and in
the complex that leads to Puhon where
having a good rhythm and some
courage is key. With its constant
elevation changes, Spielberg hasn’t
been different. The Austrian venue also
has famous and demanding corners.
The old bends dedicated to Jochen
Rindt have become turn 8 and 9. They
are downhill and must be approached
with a single line, a thing that put the
drivers’ skills to test as they were called
to drive through them as fast as
possible while respecting the track
limits. Not everybody accomplished that
feature, and many drivers had to show
up in front of the Race Director to
receive a penalty.
But before moving to two current F.1
tracks, the ALPS Championship lined-
up at Pau. A street course that for its
complexity requires the maximum
concentration, all the time. Get off the
right line means almost certainly ending
up into the barriers and compromising
the results. The safety car conditions
and all the incidents must also be taken
into account as they break the rhythm.
The drivers are required to face a tough
physical and psychological challenge. In
conditions similar to the ones they will
encounter at Monte Carlo. Although
different, the Monaco track propose
similar challenges.
