De Palo and Trident secure podium in Hockenheim’s first race

Matteo De Palo secured third place in the first race at Hockenheim, the penultimate round of the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine. The Italian driver showed good pace in both qualifying sessions, setting the fastest time in his group on both occasions, and started Race 1 from pole position. Rain earlier in the afternoon made the track tricky, although the racing line was mostly dry. 

The race started behind the safety-car, and when it went in, De Palo managed the lead well in the opening laps. Later, after a close fight, he was caught and overtaken by Slater and then by Bohra. Matteo kept his position and crossed the line in third, taking his ninth podium of the season. He is now second in the championship standings, 10 points behind Slater. Ruiqi Liu had a solid race, starting 13th and finishing just outside the points in 11th place. Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi, who started 20th, had limited chances to move forward and crossed the line in 18th.

Ruiqi Liu: “Starting from qualifying, I missed the fastest time by less than three tenths, which put me in P6 in my group and P12 on the grid for the race. It was really close in the end. With my lap in group B, I could have had a better starting position, but it is what it is. After receiving a two-place grid penalty from yesterday, I started the race in P13. I managed to gain two places at the start and finished P11. Honestly, with the conditions, it was tough and there wasn’t much more I could do. Let’s see what we can do tomorrow. Overall, the pace was good”.

Nandhavud Bhirombhakdi: “It was a tricky day, but I’m taking everything I learned today with me to use it in race 2, starting from a good position. I’m ready”.

Matteo De Palo: “Qualifying went well and in race 1 we had the chance to fight for the win, but unfortunately it didn’t go as we wanted. For race 2 we aim to win”.