11.11.07 TURVEY HAS TECHINCAL PROBLEMS IN LAST ROUND OF EUROCUP The last month has been one of the busiest of the year - and I've had an extremely busy year... With three weekends away racing with the Formula Renault coming just as I'm starting my third year at Cambridge University, I have had to be very organised, willing to make sacrifices and very focused on these two aims. Coming into the final two FRenault races at Estoril and Barcelona I was in with a good chance of a top three position in the championship. The Estoril weekend didn't start well as I struggled with lots of understeer throughout free practice, but I worked hard with the team and was more confident going into qualifying. I improved my time again and was the fastest of the team's drivers, but could only manage 12th, albeit within half a tenth of seventh in the very close field. The races were always going to be difficult from that position and although I did my best to move forward we seemed to have to much wing so struggled for straightline speed. As the main passing opportunity was at the end of the long pits straight, this made overtaking very hard. I was hoping for better in Barcelona, where I had first tested the FRenault back in March, and I was optimistic after ending free practice in eighth. The qualifying session started off damp but drying. Having been inside the top ten throughout qualifying, I was blocked by another driver on my last three laps and dropped to 14th However I went into the races determined to move forward as I knew I had better pace and should have been in the top ten. In race one, I got one of my best starts ever and moved up three positions before turn one, eventually finishing 10th. But unfortunately in race two, the gear cable broke two corners into my out-lap. Unable to change gear and with no time to change the cable, I spent the last race of the season watching from the pitlane. Those disappointing final two rounds left me eighth in the championship. However, it's been a very competitive season, I've run near the front throughout the year and have learned a lot. Travelling around Europe has also been enjoyable, especially racing at some great circuits which I now know for the future. << back to news