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Tacos and Tequila NAF2

27.08.2014 - The North American F2 season kicked off in Mexico City this past week and if the results of the opening round are any indication, the sharp end of the grid will be the most competitive and talkative ever. Hungarian Boaz Kolbasz took double-victory from pole but behind him the scramble for points was intense and after the hardware was handed out the paddock was abuzz and social. Several drivers extended the party into the evening getting to know each other, devloping friendships and rivalries.

The pre-season favorite for the title, Kolbasz did not disappoint with obviously the quickest pace right from the beginning, edging out Rocco Rapido for pole a good three tenths clear of Romain Louis Grosjean. He fended off Grosjean to win the sprint and drove away to victory in the feature by sixteen seconds.

"Everything went good in Mexico, built up a lead in the championship while one of my main rival is crashed out (Rapido). I hope I can defend my lead, but luck can change quickly and a very long way to go this season," said Kolbasz.

Grosjean had a very strong round taking two second-places.

"Being second for the first races was really surprising for me and I am not sure I will be able to do it again this season but I'll try," offered the Frenchman. "I have no intention to beat Kolbasz, there is for the moment a too big gap between us. But I learn every day something new and I'll be able to catch him next year if we are in the same championship!"

For Rocco Rapido it was a tough outing, failing to score in either race. He had just taken the lead on the eighth lap of the sprint when his suspension gave out forcing him to park the Marlboro McLaren liveried car. Then starting from the very back for the feature there was just too much traffic to deal with.

"Of course I was disappointed. I was about to win the race, but unfortunately I had problems with the chassis and had to stop the car. Bad luck!" said Rapido. "In the second race I had to start from position 30. Without safety car I had no chance to finish in the top ten."

Ray Striver led the British charge with two third places despite holding up a train in the sprint.

"I'm surprised with a double podium but I know there were plenty of other factors here," he explained. "(Biguel) Maines DNF race today, Rapido DNF yesterday. I was hoping for top five so I'm ecstatic. I wasn't so much of a rolling road block as Monty (Semprini) suggested," he laughed. "I had two seconds over Maines but I think he went long (on pitstop strategy)."

"Patience," or lack thereof, was the answer given by Biguel Maines as the reason he retired from the second race. "I got impatient and didn't wait for my gap to arrive. I pushed further than I should in my first weekend as F2 driver and was punished. No one wants a DNF on their record let alone the first weekend as it puts me on catchup now already." It was not all negative for Maines however. "By all means I'm happy with my pace and that will continue to improve as the season progresses."

While Striver may have been ecstatic with third, Canada's Max Vanderpuije was disappointed with fifth and sixth places leaving him fourth on the table.

"I'm actually a little disappointed with my performance here, but that's the reality of the situation: where I'm at versus the competition. We've got a lot more strong drivers this season and I'm at the tail end of that list unfortunately," he reasoned. "Going for a trophy this season at my current level would be extremely difficult, although I do aim to finish top five this year. Hopefully next season after a bit more development, challenging for the top three will be more realistic."

For fellow Canadian Monty Semprini it was an error in qualifying that left him rueing a poor result from the opening round.

"I got a bit too deep in Turn 6 on my fast lap and had a poor exit," he shook his head. "Only cost a couple of tenths but left me seventh on the grid. Should have been fifth which would have given me a shot at Striver in the sprint and a much better grid slot for today. That cost even more because of the traffic I had some contact and dropped me way down. I was lucky to stay in the points." Monty starts the season off in ninth place with a sixth and a ninth this week.

The big mover today was Arnold Justasarni. The American veteran showed that he had some tricks in the bag to move up from eighth in the sprint to fourth in the feature.

"Gambled a little by going for a long first stint, after seeing that overtaking looked difficult in the first race," he said. "It paid off as we were able to set some quick times in our final few laps of that stint and come out of the pits just ahead of a couple of folks." The wiley Yankee even thinks he might have more pace to come as the season moves along. "I've been working on some new qualifying strategies, so hopefully they will help," he grinned.

The championship is far from over but it has taken it's initial shape. The competition is sizing each other up.

"The truth is, I liked to race in F2 World Series this season, but I found that too hard to my driver and quit at the very last days," said Kolbasz. "I think I made the right decision, and now winning NAF2 looks like an achievable goal. The most important is finishing races, cos I know my driver has the skills being on podium, and earn as much rating as possible."

"No disrespect to anyone else but I think Kolbasz is the one to beat," said Semprini who raced against him in last year's NAF2 as well.

Maines does not count out the Hungarian but tips another.

"From first results I can say for everyone Rapido is the one to beat, and as easy as it is winning them he could also lose them so let's all hope," he said.

Rapido is up for the challenge of getting his season back on track in the next two rounds in Canada, but admits that it won't be easy.

"I'm looking forward to Canada and I am sure I will show a good race. A win would of course be the right response to the results of last week," he said. "I still want to win the F2NA Series. I have the skills to do so, I just need the necessary bit of luck."

Grosjean is in it for the long haul and sees NAF2 as a springboard for higher aspirations.

"I am Romain Louis Grosjean Jr, the son of Romain Louis Grosjean who has been a long time ago the world #1 champion. I hope to have a great career and perhaps i'll be be in many years the world #1," he introduced himself to the media this week. "My manager after a rookie season (finished third) and a F3 North American Championship (finished first) decided it was time for F2."

And so with Round 1 in the books, the teams are getting in a little relaxation with tacos and tequila as the paddock shuts down in Mexico City. Next stop: the streets of Toronto.

Qualifying: https://www.myracingcareer.com/en/report/10-707/
Sprint: https://www.myracingcareer.com/en/report/10-708-progress/
Feature: https://www.myracingcareer.com/en/report/10-709/