Duncan takes podium in France • Duncan Tappy Racing

French Fomula Renault 2000, Magny-Cours

Race: Qualified 1st, Finished 2nd

Duncan had his second Formula Renault race abroad with a drive in the French Formula Renault 2000 Championship at Magny-Cours this weekend. He had previously driven in a one-off Northern European Cup round at Oschersleben, Germany in July.

Formula Renault 2000 at Magny-Cours

He qualified more than eight-tenths of a second ahead of the rest in a wet session on Saturday- conditions that have shown Duncan’s talent in the past. The circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours is 150 miles south of Paris and Duncan’s French Formula Renault round was supporting the World Series by Renault as was his last UK outing at Donington Park.

Duncan was pragmatic going into qualifying having had far less testing time than the French and Eurocup contenders but rain played into his hands and his British wet weather experience put him head and shoulders above the rest. In his ten laps through the session he dominated and qualified on pole position for the one race weekend an impressive 0.832 seconds ahead of his nearest rival.

The race wasn’t such plain sailing with Duncan’s main opposition from Mathieu Arzeno who had a very strong weekend winning both Eurocup races as well as the French Formula Renault. Duncan led in the early stages of the race but Arzeno made a great move on the exit of the second chicane to clinch the lead. From there Duncan followed. A safety car period closed the field from which the leading pair drove away from the rest.

Duncan said: “It’s been a good weekend. The French championship is as high profile and competitive as in the UK and it’s been a good experience.

“A lot came down to track knowledge and the guys competing in the Eurocup as well as the Formula Renault race benefited enormously from practice. Arzeno was driving well and with all those track miles he knew the best places to challenge and it worked.

“Magny-Cours is very technical and it’s a very long lap with a lot to learn. Once I figured out the technical bits it was great and I can’t wait to come back in something faster! ”

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