After a problematic Satuday’s qualifying session, when absolutely nothing worked as expected, Argentina’s driver gave everything in first race but Daniil Kvyat’s pole position and later his win deprived him to keep his title chances alive. Today, starting from the back, Regalia came 16th.

It didn’t happen. Despite Facu Regalia, Argentine driver managed by Adrián Campos, gave everything for the title, he couldn’t stop Daniil Kvyat’s GP3 title. His chances got worse after yesterday’s qualifying session, as Regalia and ART Grand Prix couldn’t improve their 10th on the grid and Kvyat topped the standings. Car’s behaviour and a brake disk, locking one of his front wheels complicated the weekend from the beginning. At the start, Regalia managed to overtake one car and, after a safety car period, he passed other two rivals for 7th place. Shortly after, Regalia and Tio Ellinas started battling and that rivalry proved to be harmful for the ART Grand Prix, as he went wide and, after the race, he was given a 20-second penalty afterwards. Definitively the title run out of options for Regalia.

Just a few minutes after finishing the race, Regalia explained that “it’s so sad, because I think we worked a lot to win the championship. But after yesterday’s qualifying session, when we achieved a poor 5th row on the grid, our chances were flying away. My start wasn’t good or at least not as good as recent ones, because clutch was overheating. At least I passed a car and then other two drivers. But finishing 7th, and being given that penalty, title fight was over for us”. Regalia explained that “I would like to thank my family their outstanding effort to have this top-level motorsport program. Of course ART Grand Prix, as they were pretty professional over the season. And finally my fans, mainly in Argentina, who supported me on Facebook and Twitter. For recalling, I finished on the podium more than everybody else and finishing runner-up to Kvyat is an excellent result. Just that final sprint coming from Arden and Kvyat prevented us from taking the title. Now it’s moment to turn the page on this and focus on race two and my GP2 test with Caterham Racing”.

In race two, taking place today, Regalia’s chances were really small. After his penalty, he was forced to start from 8th row on the grid. Even when Regalia kept pushing over the course of the race, having thrilling fights with other cars, finished 16th. This result can’t diminish his exceptional season at ART Grand Prix. Now his next commitment is already set: to test Caterham Racing GP2 car.

Follow Facu Regalia’s profiles on Facebook and Twitter:

Para más información:

www.facuregalia.com