Andrea Kimi Antonelli: A Race in my Words

It has been a career filled with successes so far and for Andrea Kimi Antonelli, his most recent title came courtesy of his favourite race so far.

The PREMA Racing driver details the weekend last season in which he claimed the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine crown, winning a wet race from eighth on the grid around the notoriously tricky Zandvoort.

Here is how the Mercedes Junior Team talent surged through the pack to claim the title in his own words.

READ MORE: Antonelli on his fast start to F2, working with Oliver Bearman, and his title aspirations

“My favourite race I would say was Zandvoort last year in FRECA. It was a crucial race because I knew ahead of the weekend I could clinch the Championship with a good result. So I was kind of nervous because when you get to the end of a season, the finish line is close but you’re afraid to do a mistake.

“But I kept my focus and didn’t think about that. I tried to focus on myself and on the job I had to do. The race was in the wet, so I was pretty confident with the conditions as they were. Over the whole weekend we had good pace no matter the weather conditions, so I was pretty confident.

“Once the race started, I was just driving naturally, that is one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in a race car. Once you’re driving naturally, you don’t really think. It’s the best feeling and everything comes super easy.

“I was starting P8 and after a few laps I was in P1 and then I was able to pull away and win the race and close out the Championship as well.

“I’m not going to lie, I was hoping for rain before the race because I knew in the dry it would have been really difficult to overtake even with the pace being so good. But the rain came just 20 minutes before the race, and it changed everything.

“It wasn’t easy, it was really cold and really slippery, so it was just about finding the right lines where the best of the grip was, finding the grippier parts of the track in the corners too.

“I think in that race I used what I’d learned in karting especially in terms of line. I was doing what I did in karting, and it actually worked. From there, over the two laps, I was just trying to pick off one by one and it worked out and was really cool.

“It’s the best feeling honestly, especially when you drive naturally. Your mind is fully free, you’re just focused and there’s nothing else in your head. Everything comes super easy, and you have the best performance. That’s what I felt during that race.

TEST NOTEBOOK: What happened during testing in Barcelona?

“The year didn’t start in the best way, it was a tough start to the season and a tough way to get back to the lead. To close off the year in that way and win the Championship, knowing all the work paid off in the end and all the work we did throughout the year to recover from the start paid off.

“A key point during the year was the consistency, getting the best results after every round and trying to get the most amount of points, I was really happy with the season.

“First of all, I won, together with the team, another Championship. After a tough start, to still be able to recover and win the title at the end and finish in style was really emotional.

“It was a really emotional moment as well because my dad was there. It was my favourite race but hopefully there’s some even better ones yet to come.”