KTF Sports’ driver came back to the top step of the podium after also achieving pole position

This Sunday (16) held the ninth and penultimate race of the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine – FRECA, in the Barcelona circuit, located in Spain. The driver Gabriel Bortoleto, from the KTF Sports Academy, shown once again all of his talent. In a perfect day, the driver who has the technical support of the French team R-Ace GP, scored pole position before no less than 34 competitors, and, in the race, managed to celebrate his second win of the season. 

The activities on the Spaniard track began Friday with the Free Practices. Gabriel, working hard with his engineers, sought at all times to find a perfect fit for the #85 car that would allow him a great performance not only in qualifying, but also in race pace.

On Saturday, as well as Sunday, the schedule was composed by the qualifying session and, hours later, the race – which lasted 30 minutes plus one lap each.

On Saturday’s qualifying, fumbling on his best lap, Bortoleto could not get the most out of the equipment, securing only 15th position for the starting grid. Very focused and knowing the excellent car he had in his hands,he made an excellent recovery race. In a race without the entrance of Safety-car – something very rare in FRECA races – the Brazilian imposed an impressive pace. With boldness and determination, he made a great climb of the pack and managed to complete the race in a celebrated eighth place.

VICTORY CAME IN GREAT STYLE

This Sunday, the story was quite different for Bortoleto. In the qualifying, in which he participated in the “B” group, he secured the pole position of the session with a time of 1m40s532 that gave him the first place just 67 thousandths ahead of the competitor who would start in second place.

The race was held at the end of the Spanish afternoon, more precisely at 11:30 am Brasilia time. In a perfect start, Gabriel managed to stay in first place while his teammate Hadrien David jumped to second place. In the second lap, the crash of a competitor caused Safety-car to enter the circuit. Bortoleto had a good position and managed to keep leading, followed with constant pressure from David.It did not take them long to open up a gap from the rest of the pack. With about 20 minutes of the race completed, David tried to overtake Gabriel at the end of the pits straight, but the Brazilian defended well and, from then on, kept the distance always around one second until three minutes to the end when, again, the Safety-car entered the track to no longer leave until the final lap. Gabriel greatly celebrated his second win in the season followed by Hadrien David and Pierre-Louis Chovet.

“I am extremely happy and fulfilled with my second win of the season. We managed to prepare a very good car for this weekend and, since yesterday, we knew that our set was one of the best on the track. I made the fastest lap yesterday and today I was able to extract 100% of the car and, with that, I won from end to end. I want to thank the commitment and work of all of the team and also my sponsors, “concluded the driver of KTF Sports/Americanet.

The final and decisive stage of FRECA will be held next weekend in Mugello, Italy.

Pictures: Dutch Photo Agency | KTF Sports
Press office of KTF Sports 
Responsible journalist: Flávio Quick