Round 5 of Formula 4 Spanish Championship took place this weekend at Autodromo do Estoril. The championship was back in action only a week after the previous meeting. GRS Team had a tough weekend, where it was difficult to find the right and the desired results were not achieved.
The team entered its two drivers confirmed for the remainder of the season: Carl Bennett and Isaac Barashi. Our drivers hit the track for the first time on Friday’s pre-event collective test.
Following the dominant trend throughout the season, the grid was extremely close. Every hundredth of a second would be crucial to gain positions. Our drivers found themselves at the back of the pack on Free Practice sessions and Qualifying 1. As usual, they took their opportunity on the race to make a recovery drive. Both drivers gained five places in Race 1: Bennett was P27 despite going off track, and Barashi finished in P28.
On Sunday, our difficulties persisted. Both of our cars finished Qualifying 2 outside the Top 30. On Race 2, however, they both climbed up places once again: Carl finished on 29th with Isaac being 30th. Both drivers had good starts in Race 3, where they made up places until they both had to retire after being involved in separate incidents.
That is how we wrap-up a weekend to forget. Difficulties faced and misfortunes left us unable to fight for the aimed positions. However, we keep working to turn the situation around. We will be back stronger than ever in October 14-15 in Valencia, our home race at Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
