A mechanical failure deprives Cecotto of a podium

Ocean Racing Technology was one of the main protagonists in the GP2 Main Series Hungary races, but was poorly-rewarded for its efforts and competitiveness, despite changing, tricky weather conditions.

Qualifying was the only time the Portuguese team let up, and they occupied the 21st (Mirocha) and 23rd (Cecotto) positions on the starting grid in the first race, where the young German driver managed to move up to 14th place.

If it weren’t for a contact with Charles Pic in the second race, Kevin Mirocha could have crossed the finish line in the points, but had to settle for an 8th place finish, with the satisfaction of having had the second fastest lap in race. The youngest driver in the series is satisfied with the team’s performance level, but regrets that the result is not enough payback for everyone’s efforts.

"It’s a mixture of feelings jostling about in my head," Kevin Mirocha admitted, "On the one hand, I am satisfied because the second race was hard, with two pit stops, and the team made the right decisions, I drove well, and we were able to secure points. On the other hand, Charles Pic’s attitude bothers me because I was in 6th when he caused a collision that sent me into the gravel. I lost two positions and the chance to secure points. But the weekend went well on a collective level: the team guided me well over the radio and I had a lot of fun driving in the rain, in a crazy race."

As for Johnny Cecotto Jr, he had to abandon the race on Saturday after being bumped by a rival in the first corner. Consequently, he started from the last row on the grid the next day. Despite this handicap, and thanks to a good team strategy, he was able to aim for a spot on the podium when a mechanical failure forced him to abandon the race in the 15th lap.

"An accident quickly put an end to my first race and I didn’t have time to feel any regrets, unlike in the second race when mechanical problems deprived me of a podium," lamented the Venezuelan driver, "A weekend which should have been excellent ends in immense frustration because the team had done a great job and unfortunately the result is no reflection of its worth. We are going to take a brief vacation before getting ready for the next two races."

The next GP2 Main Series meeting will take place on August 27 and 28 on Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps circuit.