UK: Michael Patrizi Mondello Park race notes

Two top five finishes for Patrizi in Ireland
Fifth in both races and good car speed gives Patrizi added confidence

Michael Patrizi has left Rounds 3 and 4 of the Formula BMW UK Championship pleased after scoring two top five finishes on Sunday at the Mondello Park circuit in Ireland.

Patrizi finished fifth in both races and has taken added confidence from the form that saw him again run amongst the front-runners in the demanding and competitive category. Patrizi showed great speed over the weekend and is settling into the British racing scene well.

Patrizi was one of the fastest cars in qualifying but due to slower traffic and the tight and twisting nature of the Mondello Park circuit, the Australian was unable to complete a clear lap in either qualifying session. Despite setting some of the quickest sector times, Patrizi qualified eighth for the first race and sixth of the second.

The first race saw Patrizi get a fantastic start and the 21-year-old was into fifth within a lap. The two cars ahead of Patrizi were involved in a hard-fought battle, making the already difficult task of overtaking very precarious. Patrizi was unable to affect a pass and ended the race fifth.

Race 2 again saw Patrizi launch away well from the line and he was soon into fourth. After a Safety Car was brought onto the circuit, Patrizi lost two spots at the restart. Patrizi, however, was able to get back one of the spots with a daring late-braking manoeuvre on the last lap of the race to again finish fifth and collect a solid haul of points.

Michael Patrizi:
"This was a really good weekend for me," said Patrizi. "This is a solid result and the signs are all very good for the year ahead."

"We had the car going really fast all weekend, but I didn't get a clear lap in qualifying, which put us back on the grid for the races. But the car felt really good all weekend and that is a great sign for the coming rounds."

"My goal for the opening rounds of this season was to be consistent and we have achieved that. I have been in the top five in three of the four rounds held so far and finished all four rounds in the points."

"This weekend the car speed was really strong, which is an excellent effort by everyone considering we did not attend the two-day test at Mondello Park in January. All the signs are good. The aim is to stay consistent and keep this good car speed on board."

Points: Niall Breen 56, Oliver Oakes 53, Michael Meadows 49, Euan Hankey 43, Ross Curnow 39, MICHAEL PATRIZI 30.

-cj-