The Arden Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup trio headed to Spielberg, Austria to the Red Bull Ring Circuit for round 7 of the championship. Qualifying 1 saw Zane Goddard set the 11th fastest time in his group, with teammate Ghislain Cordeel setting the 12th fastest time just behind him. Red Bull Junior Dan Ticktum was in the other qualifying group and set the 3rd fastest time in his session.
This gave Ticktum 6th on the grid, Goddard 22nd and Cordeel 24th on the hugely competitive grid for the first race of the weekend.
When the lights went out, Ticktum made a great start to initially pass Robert Shwartzmann for 5th position. Teammates Goddard and Cordeel faired less well, as Goddard was sent to the back of the field following contact and Cordeel was baulked at turn three meaning he was in 25th position at the end of the opening lap.
Five laps in, Ticktum made a bold move up the inside of Will Palmer into the final corner, taking 4th position in the process but had to defend hard in the uphill climb through turns 1-3 - which he managed to hold. Ticktum managed to break away from his pursuers to secure 4th position on track as the laps reeled off - setting the fastest lap in the process at half race distance. Cordeel was also involved in an incident, demoting him to the rear of the field behind the recovering Goddard in a luckless race for two of the Arden trio.
At the chequered flag, Ticktum took 4th at the flag and 2nd in the Rookie Classification, however he was penalised ten seconds after the race for his disputed involvement in an overtaking move - which he was then classified 9th at the finish.
The starting grid for Race 2 saw Ticktum start from 6th, Goddard from 18th and Cordeel from 28th. Ticktum maintained position at the start, whilst Goddard and Cordeel both held their positions initially as well. At the end of lap one after the battling up at turn three and turn four, Ticktum was running in 7th, Goddard has been shuffled back to 24th with his teammate Cordeel just behind him.
Ticktum took 6th position off Max Defourney at half distance to move himself back up to 6th position, whilst Goddard was making progress back up the field into 21st position and Cordeel in 23rd. A safety car was deployed with 10 minutes to go after two drivers were stranded at the exit of turn four.
On the restart with 8 minutes to go, the front runners assumed position still with no changes - each unable to capitalise on each other in a six way stalemate. Ticktum went for a bold move on Shwartzmann into turn six but backed out of it as 4th-6th position ran nose to tail. Ticktum moved up to 5th position -just behind Rookie rival Max Fewtrell for 4th position, before another safety car was deployed with 5 minutes of the race to go.
Ticktum this time was jumped by Defourney at the restart - demoting him back to 6th and allowing Rookie Championship rival Fewtrell some breathing space in 4th position.
Race two finished with Ticktum finishing in 6th position, taking 2nd on the Rookie Podium once again. Goddard recovered well to finish in 16th and Cordeel likewise to finish 21st.
The championship now heads into a short summer break and will resume action at the Paul Ricard Circuit, France for Round 8 and Races 18-20, on the 26-27 August.