It’s no secret that defending VRL champion Robin Verdegaal had some hard luck in the first two rounds of the Winter Trophy at Silverstone and the Nurburgring. Even though he drove three fastest laps in four races, pitlane still buzzed with rumours concerning Verdegaal’s title: had he just been lucky last season? After two races at Japan’s Mount Fuji circuit, the answer is clear. Verdegaal served his criticasters with two fastest laps and two victories.

In the first race he had to settle for 3rd place on the grid, behind teammate András Király and rookie Jeffrey Rietveld. The first part of the race was a tombola of position changes, due to the slipstreambattles on Fuji’s long straight. After seven laps Verdegaal could break free from Rietveld’s claws and drive away. Király battled it out with Martin de Graaf but ended up just outside the podium in 4th place. Third SFH driver Filip Verbert finished in 6th place. Johan Nieuwenhof made it to the grid, but never left his spot disconnecting just before the lights went green.

Starting from poleposition in race two, this time Verdegaal didn’t need much time to break away from the pack. By lap 5 Király had to let him go, while fighting for second place with Rietveld. Verbert did one position better than in the first race, Nieuwenhof who showed up just in time for race 2 ranked 10th after another connection failure.

After three rounds in the Formula 3 the VRL Winter Trophy moves on to Brno for the first of three races in the vintage GT class. Király still leading the board, Verbert holding on to 3rd place in the standings, and Verdegaal jumping well into the top ten. Race report.

Race 1
András Király - 1st
Robin Verdegaal - 3rd
Filip Verbert - 6th

Race 2
Robin Verdegaal - 1st
András Király - 2nd
Filip Verbert - 5th
Johan Nieuwenhof - DNF