The Spanish circuit of Navarra played host to the second weekend of the Acceleration14 events, which included rounds three and four of the Formula Acceleration 1 series.
After Team Italy and Mirko Bortolotti dominated the first event in the Algarve a week ago, it was the turn of Team Netherlands and Nigel Melker to win both races, although it was not as clear cut, with Bortolotti taking the chequered flag in race two but incurring a ten-second penalty that enabled Melker to add to his first race win.
Melker started race one from pole position, but a bad start saw him drop behind Bortolotti, but the Dutchman retook the lead when the Italian made a mistake, and built up a good lead as he admitted the car felt good.
“The start didn’t go that well, so Mirko Bortolotti was able to pass me,” said Melker after race one. “Luckily he made a mistake which I took advantage of. When I took first position again I was able to create a gap. The car is really good, the pit stop went well and we finished with a gap of 12 seconds.”
Slovakian Richard Gonda finished third ahead of Swede Dennis Lind, who took over the drive from Felix Rosenqvist who was in Germany racing in the FIA European Formula 3 Championship. Venezuelan Rodolfo Gonzalez completed the top five.
A track limits penalty saw Melker’s best lap time from the second qualification session nullified, but a penalty for Bortolotti for a loose tyre in the pit lane saw the Dutchman take a second win of the weekend.
German Sebastian Balthasar completed the podium on Sunday, ahead of Armando Parente, the Portuguese driver having switched to the Chinese entry for Navarra. Fifth place went to Team Mexico and Michael Dorrbeckker.
Navarra Race 1 Result
POS | DRIVER | NATION | TIME/Laps |
1 | Nigel Melker | Netherlands | 19 Laps |
2 | Mirko Bortolotti | Italy | +11.514s |
3 | Richard Gonda | Slovakia | +12.221s |
4 | Dennis Lind | Sweden | +25.202s |
5 | Rodolfo Gonzalez | Venezuela | +25.954s |
6 | Sergio Campana | Portugal | +27.497s |
7 | Sebastian Balthasar | Germany | +36.250s |
8 | Michael Dorrbeckker | Mexico | +1m06.882s |
9 | Armando Parente | China | +1m07.388s |
RET | Nathanael Berthon | Italy | 10 Laps |
RET | Oliver Campos | Spain | 6 Laps |
RET | Picho Toledano | Mexico | 5 Laps |
Navarra Race 2 Result
POS | DRIVER | NATION | TIME/Laps |
1 | Nigel Melker | Netherlands | 29 Laps |
2 | Mirko Bortolotti | Italy | +6.349s |
3 | Sebastian Balthasar | Germany | +35.078s |
4 | Armando Parente | China | +41.813s |
5 | Michael Dorrbeckker | Mexico | +58.772s |
6 | Picho Toledano | Mexico | +1 Lap |
7 | Dennis Lind | Sweden | +1 Lap |
8 | Oliver Campos | Spain | +1 Lap |
9 | Rodolfo Gonzalez | Venezuela | +2 Laps |
RET | Nathanael Berthon | Italy | 7 Laps |
RET | Richard Gonda | Slovakia | 1 Lap |
RET | Sergio Campana | Portugal | 0 Laps |