Juri Vips has claimed his first podium in Formula 2 at Mugello.
DAMS driver Juri Vips, who is sitting in for injured Sean Gelael, secured his first podium in Formula 2 during the Sprint Race in Mugello.
An impressive seventh-place finish in the Feature Race, Vips started from second and managed to hold on for his first podium in his third round for the team.
Juri Vips said: “I’m really happy with the points that the team scored this weekend. It wasn’t quite perfect; I didn’t fully maximise the car’s potential as there was the possibility of a podium in the Feature Race and I think we could have won today had I made a better start. But I’m very thankful to DAMS for this opportunity and glad to repay them with this result. We sorted some of the elementary issues that were present in Spa and Monza while I was still acclimatising, and I was immediately fast in free practice and qualifying, just 0.350 seconds from pole position. The pace was there and the car was good, and I’m now really focused on just putting a full weekend together. It’s a great pleasure to be continuing in the car for Sochi and I’m hopeful that we can fight for the win.”
Dan Ticktum suffered in both races due to incidents so was unable to capitalise on his pace, despite the Brit being in a podium position and qualifying just 0.005 seconds adrift from pole position.
Dan Ticktum said: “It was another very unlucky weekend for me in many ways. Our qualifying pace was very strong; I was only 0.005 seconds from pole position. During the Feature Race we were perhaps not quite quick enough to win, but we definitely had the speed to be on the podium. However, I was hit at the restart and that really compromised the rest of my race. On Sunday, I was starting at the back and had my front wing taken off early on, which ruined my chances of getting a good result. However, the pace was really strong, we had the fastest lap and the degradation was controlled well, which shows how good the balance of the car was.”
Dams will be hopeful that Russia will be just as good for Vips, who will remain in the car for Sochi while Sean Gelael continues his recovery. Meanwhile, Ticktum will want a better weekend when Formula 2 returns.
Picture Credit: (C) Formula Motorsport Limited
