Piastri secures double podium finish

Just a week after the previous round at the Nürburgring, Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup was back in action at Hockenheim, Germany for round nine of the 2018 Championship.

Qualifying saw Piastri head the Arden charge by setting the third fastest time in Group A, meaning he would start from fifth on the grid in race one.

Banbury team-mates Sami Taoufik and Nikita Volegov set the eighth and 13th best times in their sessions respectively, lining up 15th and 26th on the grid.

Piastri crossed the line in third at the chequered flag, banking his second podium of the season as well as taking the rookie victory. Volegov’s drive saw him finish 13th, making brilliant progress from his starting position as team-mate Taoufik finished 19th.

Qualifying for the second race saw Piastri once again line up fifth on the grid with Volgegov 22nd on the grid and Taoufik 26th.

As in the opening race the safety car was deployed. Piastri was closing on leader Max Fewtrell for the lead in the closing stages but ran out of laps to pass him, holding second position to the chequered flag.

That sealed his best result of the season, his second podium of the weekend and second rookie victory in a row following his great performance.

Taoufik completed a strong recovery drive to finish in 12th position with Volegov rounding out the Arden runners in 24th place after a late race retirement saw him miss out on a top-15 finish.

The final round of the 2018 Formula Renault Eurocup championship will take place at the Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona on October 20-21, for the last two races.