Formula Renault Northern European Cup
Oschersleben, Germany 7th and 8th July 2007

Race 1: Qualified 4th, Finished 3rd
Race 2: Qualified 30th, Finished 11th

Duncan had a change of scenery last weekend with a team outing to Germany and came away with a podium from a round of the Formula Renault 2.0 NEC at Oschersleben, a track in the east of the country, 24 miles south of the town of Magdeburg.

Qualifying for Race One went well with Duncan finishing in fourth place, unlike the second session in which he had a spin on his out-lap into a gravel trap from which he was pulled out but sustained engine damage and had to change an engine. With no lap time he was set to start from the back of the grid in 30th position.

Race One was a case of holding position which he managed well for the 17 laps of the 2.3 mile track. Fortec Motorsport team-mate Dean Smith had been running in second place, but was penalised for jumping the start, handing third place to Duncan.

Although he couldn’t make a repeat visit to the podium for Race Two, Duncan worked his way from 30th to 11th with an impressive drive – no mean feat in a one make series. He loved every minute and without the pressures of needing points for a championship, could savour the practice in overtaking and working his way through the field.

Duncan said: “My team manager Dave Moore suggested that we ty to put a budget together to race here, which we managed to do, to get us more experience and track time. You can never have enough time in the seat so it’s all good. It’s been a great experience. Everything here’s been different and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the weekend. The atmosphere’s been fantastic!

“Oschersleben’s a flowing circuit with lots to it – plenty of corners and a few third gear hairpins so they’re quite fast. There’s a couple of technical chicanes thrown in and three cambered corners that you can take at a higher speed. It’s the sort of more technical circuit that I tend to do better at.

“Race One was great and it was good to be on the pace of the boys that are based at the track. In a way it was frustrating being at the back for Race Two but it was a great race in a completely different way. It was a case of keeping it together for the first few corners and then pushing and passing them one by one.

“I haven’t had a race starting from the back this season so it was really good practice and was good to be able to overtake so many. It’s been a fantastic weekend.”

Duncan’s next event is back in his regular Formula Renault UK Championship at Donington Park, Leicestershire on 14th and 15th July.

•   Filed under: Events
•   Tagged as: Formula Renault Northern European Cup, Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, podium finishes