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NEWS : SHWARTZMAN ON THE WSK PODIUM YET AGAIN

Just as he had done in his previous race with Jamie Croxford’s Forza Racing team, Robert went straight into the Super Pole shoot-out, ultimately placing 9th overall in a close and tense session.

Bouncing back from a time penalty in the opening heat - for what the officials judged as a ‘bad manoeuvre’- Robert finished 9th in the second heat and 6th in the last of the preliminary races before Sunday’s all-important finals.

“With a reduced entry, the organisers changed the format of the racing to three heats and two finals. With no separate groups, this effectively made each race a final,” explained Forza team owner, Jamie Croxford. “Consequently, that made the racing aggressive and quite frenetic because, to qualify for the pre-final, you had to improve throughout the meeting.  In the cut and thrust of the opening heat, Robert was a little too ‘enthusiastic’.”

Despite his earlier transgression, the Russian youngster had done more than enough to earn himself a fourth row start in the pre-final. A solid drive in the 17-lap encounter netted a fine 5th place at the chequered flag and the vital inside line of row three on the grid for the main final.

“We were unlucky not to have finished higher. Before the pre-final started, the wind got up and made the track really dusty and slippery. The bigger drivers could use their weight to generate more mechanical grip, and so coped better in the conditions but the lighter ones were hindered,” said Croxford.

As the leading pair duelled over the lead, Robert made the most of his lightning start to carve his way through the traffic into 3rd place.  

“Throughout the race Robert was under a lot of pressure from the drivers behind him. He did really well and didn’t succumb to it. “

“He was by far the best of the smaller drivers, and I’ve said for the past four months that it was only a matter of time before he had a podium.

“I knew that once he’d achieved that then more would come, and this latest success shows that he’s thrown the psychological monkey off his back. His speed was never an issue but his racecraft and confidence needed to improve. “

“Now he knows that he is capable of achieving top six finishes in every race, or at least top eight, I think we’ll see him flourish.”  

The result moves Robert from 10th to 7th place in the championship with one round remaining.

Images: Pushing for podium (above), On the podium, taking the trophy, receiving advice , pushing hard (opposite)

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