Spa-Belgium, 31st May 2015 - Indonesia’s Sean Gelael fell just two places short of a second successive points weekend in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series at Spa-Francorchamps.

After a glorious eighth place in the streets of Monte Carlo supporting the Monaco Grand Prix, which allowed 18-year-old Gelael to score his first points, his best result on the legendary Belgian circuit of Spa was a 12^th position.

Sean started the weekend in style, with an excellent fourth fastest time in his Jagonya Ayam with Carlin car in the first free practice session, before he was 12^th in the second.

“It started off very promising and the car felt good, especially in low-downforce trim,” he said. “But in qualifying for the Sunday race I flat-spotted my first set of tyres. It was not that bad but the gap to the fastest cars was a bit disappointing. I did not get a proper lap in.”

Gelael therefore started that race from 15^th on the grid. He lost ground on the first lap when he was pushed wide as the field charged into the La Source hairpin, but recovered 15^th place as two other drivers hit trouble.

Sean then made up places during the course of the race and was closing on Mexican Alfonso Celis Jr in the late stages, although he was unable to make a move to improve on his 12^th position.

“I went for the outside at the first corner but it did not work and I fell to 17^th briefly,” said Gelael. “We stayed out late to make our mandatory pit-stop and then afterwards I was catching Celis. We were running more downforce than him so he was faster on the straights, so although I could catch him up in the middle sector, where the long corners are, it was impossible to get close enough to him in the areas where you can overtake. I finished less than one second behind him.”

Saturday’s race had ended with Sean finishing 15^th from 18^th on the grid, despite having his front wing damaged as he battled with Israeli Roy Nissany. “Sunday was better,” said Gelael, “but still it has been a disappointing weekend as I really hoped to get some points, especially after first free practice went so well.”

Tom Dillmann’s best result of the weekend in the other Jagonya Ayam with Carlin car was sixth in race one.

The next round is at the Hungaroring near Budapest on 12^th-14^th June, with Sean confident of a good result. “I am really looking forward to it,” he said. “Last year in Formula 3 I qualified well there and took my second points finish, so let’s do the same in Formula Renault 3.5! I think the Carlin team have a good car there, so hopefully me and my engineer can come up with a good set-up and we can have a great weekend.” (ms/arl)