Here are our race reports for the Chinese and the Spanish rounds of the 2017 GPVWC Formula Challenge season.

After the first two races, STAX Racing was seventh in the Constructors’ Championship. Finishing every race in the points, Menno Klont found himself in 12th place while Chris Shepherd was 16th. After a solid start to the season, the STAX Racing drivers were eager to finish higher up the grid in the following races. Below, you can find our race reports from Shanghai and Valencia. The broadcasts can be viewed on the next page and on the last page, all qualifying and race results are listed.

Shanghai International Circuit (4th April 2017)

Menno started the first race in P5. After a superb start, he was able to overtake two cars in the first corner and was in P3 for the rest of the race. While Roy Schroten was able to catch up to Menno in the last few laps, the STAX Racing driver was able to defend his position and achieved STAX Racing’s first podium finish in a GPVWC Career Ladder series. Chris had a more action packed race: After starting from sixth position, he lost one place in the first corner. After that, he enjoyed a long battle with Terence Grech and Patryk Gerber. In the second to last corner, Chris was able to overtake EJ Engineering’s Liam de Waal into fifth place.

The second race started with a bang when Roy Schroten swerved into Menno in the braking zone for Turn 6. Menno lost control of the car, went onto the grass and couldn’t slow down before entering the corner. As a result of the following pileup, he found himself in 15th position. From that moment on, he set out to do as much damage control as possible. Although he suffered from driving a slightly bent car, he was able to fight his way up to P10 in the end. Chris started the race from seventh position, but was able to overtake several drivers each lap. In the last few laps he was catching the two front running cars, but had no opportunity to attack them anymore. He finished the race in 3rd position which meant that STAX Racing left China with two podium finishes in the bag.

Valencia Street Circuit (18th April 2017)

Menno drove the third fastest lap in qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix. He once again had a brilliant start and gained one position as a result of that. Liam de Waal was able to overtake Menno on lap seven and shortly after that a battle for the last spot on the podium began between Menno and Roy Schroten. On Lap 13, Roy was able to pass Menno, but the STAX Racing driver regained third place in the next corner. After that, Menno was able to gain some time on Roy and finished the race in third position. Chris qualified in twelth position. On the first lap, he clipped the Armco barrier in the kink leading up to the bridge, causing a mass collision. He retired the car on the spot.

In the second race, Menno started from P10 and understeered into the wall on the second lap. His car suffered heavy damage and Menno had to come to the pits to do repairs. He rejoined the race in 25th position but needed another front wing after a crash in the third lap. Since he saw no chance to finish in the points, he focused on driving the fastest lap instead. In the end, he finished in 21st place, ending his seven race streak of finishing in the points. Chris started the race in 26th position. After just one lap, he was in P16 already. In the following laps, he was able to gain even more places. In the last lap, he was in P8, catching up to Roy Verzijl and Wesley Stefano infront of him. However, Roy had a suboptimal exit to the last corner, holding up Wesley in the process. Chris had no time to react and made contact with Wesley. The subsequent spin meant that Chris lost two places on the start / finish straight and was classified tenth in the end.

After the first four rounds, STAX Racing is fourth in the Constructors’ Championship. Finishing every race but one in the points, Menno Klont is 6th in the drivers championship table, while Chris Shepherd is in 12th position.

On the next page, you can find the broadcasts of the Chinese and Spanish rounds. On the third page, you can find the qualifying and race results. The next race of the season will be held in Spielberg, Austria on May 2nd.