Cameron Das can be pleased with another strong qualifying performance despite a challenging season finale in Barcelona as the 2017 Euroformula Open Season drew to a close this weekend. Das qualified within the top ten ahead of the opening race of the weekend however suffered contact with a competitor leaving the American racer stranded on track and out of the race. Bouncing back for the season finale Das crossed the line in 14th having made some brilliant overtaking moves to round off four solid race weekends in the competitive Championship this season.
The final race weekend of the 2017 Euroformula Open season took place in Barcelona at the Circuit de Catalunya with two days of testing to get to grips with at the Spanish circuit. However heavy fog both mornings meant that track action was delayed somewhat while the conditions improved. Not letting the change in schedule affect him at all, Das was sure to get to know the circuit well and was a regular top ten finisher throughout the course of the two days; proving the pace in his Campos Racing car ahead of the weekend.
Thankfully the fog wasn’t a factor on Saturday morning as the first of two 30 minute qualifying sessions got underway. Once again the 2016 F4 US Champion was nicely on the pace and by the end of the shoot-out had set the ninth quickest time – allowing him a fifth row start for the penultimate race of the season.
Off the line Das found himself involved in an aggressive fight for positions all around. Fighting hard as the cars ran wheel to wheel around the Spanish circuit it was a tense and fiercely fought opening lap for the Campos driver. However on lap five, disaster struck as Joey Mawson ran too close and struck Das sending him sideways; despite initially controlling his car well in the incident, Das was forced to pull over and retire just a short while later with far too much damage to his car.
Following the disappointment, Das turned his attention to the final qualifying session on Sunday morning. A red flag at the end of his opening run brought him back in to the pits before eventually qualifying in 13th position. As the lights went out for the final race of the season Das launched well and once again found himself in an intense battle for position with those around him. Fighting throughout the race, and despite more close combat which left him out of position, Das was able to gain positions from Guilherme Samaia and Pedro Cardosa in the final laps to take 14th place.
Das said of the weekend, “This weekend I had four days of valuable time at the famous circuit Barcelona-Catalunya. I really enjoyed the track which has its fair share of high speed and low speed corners. During the first race there was an unfortunate incident that forced me to retire. In the second race I was punted by another car which distanced me from the pack I was fighting with. Towards the end I was able to catch up and make a few overtakes. All in all it was an action-packed, experience-filled weekend that will be useful for next year.”
Rounding off the season, Das is also taking part in the official post-season test at Barcelona today.