After a long wait, Sandy Stuvik, the 16 year old local Thai racer finally got back to the famous Nürburgring in Germany for last weekend’s Formula Renault World Series race.
Having had some testing at the track last year Sandy was optimistic and eager for some good races in the EuroCup series. The initial Friday testing did though soon turn difficult as Sandy struggled with a huge understeer on his formula car.
Sandy Stuvik, foreground, drives his Formula Renault car at the Nürburgring in Germany, Saturday, June 18.
Although the weather was cold and overcast there was as always a huge spectator turnout and the track dried up for Saturday’s qualifying and subsequent race.
Sandy was philosophical following his disappointing return to the Nürburgring.
Having qualified 27th, Sandy and several competitors were for some reason forced to do a random order pit lane start, as opposed to the regular grid start and having initially dropped back, Sandy fought hard from 34th and got himself up to 26th, but struggled again with excessive understeer.
Sunday was greeted with cold rain for qualifying and Sandy brought his Formula Renault in for 21st place, just in front of Saturday’s pole sitter Will Stevens. Sandy was optimistic his car had improved handling and was eager to fight his way up the grid. He had a good race start, but exiting the first corner he drifted wide and another car drove over his front wing, which lodged itself under Sandy’s car. Consequently the Nürburgring became a tough but educational weekend for the young driver.
“Definitely one of those weekends where it’s just about taking the worst and putting it behind you and maintain motivation for the next round in Hungary. It’s been an expensive test of character but an experience I need to learn from and I hope for a much better event in 2 weeks”, added the young Thai.
Sandy will now focus on the next race at Hungaroring in Hungary on July 2-3. He has never before been to this circuit, but knows it well from simulator training and is looking forward to this exciting race.
Stuvik’s car, with damaged nose cone and front wing assembly, is parked up following race day 2 on Sunday.
