Written by Archie O’Reilly
DIVEBOMB-partnered driver John Bennett made his Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine debut for KIC Motorsport by Evans GP at Zandvoort on June 8 and 9.
“A nice challenge, jumping into a new car mid season with no testing,” Bennett, who got a last minute call-up after a driver pulled out of the event, said. He had previously raced with Evans GP in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship last off-season.
Bennett finished seventh in the pre-event test day heading into the first race and qualifying session on Saturday. Unlike the weekend format of a sole qualifying session and three races in the GB3 Championship, in which Bennett has one win and three further podiums to his name so far this year, there are two separate qualifying sessions for two races.
Bennett qualified 11th out of a 31-car field for the opening race after placing sixth in his group - a very strong effort after only one previous outing in the car one day prior. It was the best qualifying result that the team has achieved so far after three rounds in 2024.
Conditions were wet by the time the opening race rolled around, meaning a bulk of the race was spent under safety car conditions. But Bennett put in an impressive display when racing got underway, rising into the top 10 before dropping to 16th after a late-race restart. This was still the team’s best race result of the season.
“To achieve the team’s best race and quali results of the season was a good achievement,” Bennett said. “P11 of 31 overall in Q1 was very nice and the races were good experiences.”
Qualifying for the second race was slightly more challenging, albeit Bennett was still a team-best 21st and creditably mid-pack for only his second FRECA race. He progressed five places to 16th in the early laps but saw his day “sadly” end early with a mechanical issue. Though this did not dampen Bennett’s positivity with his debut performance.
“Overall, pretty satisfied with my performance over what I could control over the weekend,” he said. “It has opened up a couple more opportunities for the future but now full focus goes back to GB3.”
Bennett will next be on track for GB3’s inaugural visit to the Hungaroring on June 22 and 23.
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