At the recent racing weekend Red Bull Junior, Australian Daniel Ricciardo, picked up two victories and a podium. His recipe for success: he likes to forget that he’s sitting in a formula racing car.
As soon as it gets a bit hectic Daniel Ricciardo starts to shine. In Estoril, Portugal, last racing weekend the Red Bull Junior took on no less than four races – two each in the Formula Renault EC and WEC respectively. Obviously a situation with just the right stress level to bring out top performances in the 19-year-old. After three of four races Ricciardo stepped up to the podium three times, two of them even on the step that has the most advantageous view.
Side-by-side through the chicanes
This unique Aussie also likes stress situations during races. "I love side-by-side-duels that maneuver through a few corners," he says. "Like recently in Le Mans. That’s where Jean-Eric [Vergne] and I really fought it out, as if we were racing karts." But in this racing class, the Formula Renault, it’s about full-blown formula racing cars: 490 kilos light, with almost 200 HP and an acceleration to 100 in 4.85 seconds.
Second double victory in a row
The highlight of Daniel’s most recent weekend was a re-run of the Le Mans duel. As it happened in France, in the eighth Formula Renault 2.0 WEC race of the season in Estoril he also celebrated a double victory with his French Red Bull Junior team-mate Jean-Eric Vergne. In the ninth race he finished second.Another victory in the EC
The duo was also successful in the Formula Renault Eurocup. In the 11th race of the championship Daniel Ricciardo collected his second victory of the weekend – and at the same time, his 11th this year. Jean-Eric Vergne just missed out on a podium, coming fourth.Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne
Daniel Ricciardo