Both Yarin Stern and Tanart Sathienthirakul impressed for Motul Team West-Tec as the EuroFormula Open returned to the Portuguese track of Estoril, just outside Lisbon, for the first time in eight seasons.
With two days of testing scheduled at the erstwhile home of the Portuguese Grand Prix, both drivers took turns at the head of the field as yet another hyper-competitive weekend beckoned.
Qualifying for race one was a typically tight affair with the first few drivers covered by mere tenths, as Yarin lined up third and Tanart in sixth. After a 19 lap battle Yarin had improved to finish in a clear second place, being unable to find the pace to pass for the lead, and Tanart had moved up to finish in a gritty fifth position.
For Sunday's race two Tanart gridded third and Yarin fifth. Yarin made a great start to move up to third at the first corner and he then spent the early laps attacking the leaders before a small mistake saw him on the grass and spinning into the barriers. Frustrating for Yarin but Tanart took up the cudgels and finished in a strong third position, after closing up on the car ahead but again being unable to pass.
Yarin Stern: Race one was a perfect race! For race two I made a fantastic start and went to third place in the first corner, then I was battling for first place with the leaders but I pushed a bit too hard and went of the track and hit the wall.
John Miller, Motul Team West-Tec: Yarin and Tanart both did really well, and it was great to see them both up on the podium. I know they are pushing hard to make the top step - and the next race weekend, which is at our home track of Silverstone, would be perfect for that!
One of the most successful teams in the history of the EuroFormula / European Formula 3 Open, Team West-Tec enjoys team support from Motul, Nielsen Chemicals, B-G Racing, Eibach, MIS Locktons, Mechanix and Freem GB.
