“Imola can’t come soon enough” – MP Motorsport on the up says Team Manager Coekaerts

Three points scoring results from a possible three rounded out a positive weekend for MP Motorsport, headlined by Tim Tramnitz’s comeback drive from P13 to the podium.

The Red Bull Junior Team driver put on a mature display, managing his tyres to perfection to make crucial overtakes and progress through the points. He achieved the team’s first podium finish of the season, putting him second in the Drivers’ Championship.

MP Team Manager Frank Coekaerts paid tribute to all three of his drivers. Rookies Alessandro Giusti and Bruno del Pino also brought home valuable points results, lifting the team up to second in the Teams’ Standings heading into Round 3, and capping off a positive weekend for the Dutch squad.

“It was a bit of an event for us, three cars in the top 10. In Melbourne we didn’t get out of the blocks like we wanted to, but this is proof of the hard work that we’ve done up until now. Hopefully there’s more to come, but it was definitely a good weekend for us.”

Coekaerts was effusive in his praise of the work the team’s drivers did in both Qualifying and the races. While Tramnitz wasn’t able to secure a top 10 start like his teammates, he made up for it in the Feature Race.

Del Pino’s P5 result on Friday and Giusti’s P9 was also evidence of the successful adaptation both have made at this early stage of their rookie seasons.

The MP Team Manager says he’s happy with the work the trio have done and was glad to see it pay off in the Feature Race.

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“He did everything right. He had a set of new tyres which of course helped in the race, but he used all of the tools available to him to manage the situation and to use them to the best of his ability and to best effect.

“The rookies proved the potential of the car in Qualifying, unfortunately Tim started out of position but did a fantastic recovery drive.”

Looking ahead to Round 3 and Imola, the Dutch team are itching to get back on track to capitalise on their good form.

Last season, Tramnitz secured P2 in the Sprint Race with the team and is hoping to achieve the same. Coekaerts believes the team have found their true level of performance and will be able to showcase more of the same going forward.

He added that the speed displayed across the Sakhir weekend was part of an upward trend the team has been on since the beginning of the year.

“We are planning to make this the baseline! It’s not a one off. They’re doing well, adapting well and using all the tools we’ve handed them well.

“In testing in Barcelona, we were ok. Melbourne, we were competitive but a bit unlucky with a few issues that held us back, and then here we were on the money. Imola can’t come quick enough.”