Photo: Dutch Photo Agency
Global Racing Service has withdrawn from the upcoming Formula Renault Eurocup season as a consequence of the global coronavirus pandemic.
The Catalan outfit, born from the assets of the folded Monisha Kaltenborn-linked KDC Racing team that ran in Italian Formula 4, was created at the end of 2018 and made its racing debut in the Spanish F4 season finale with one car.
Last year it gained a slot on the Eurocup entry list for the series’ first season using regional Formula 3 regulations, and signed long-time Spanish F4 racer Xavier Lloveras – who raced for the team on its F4 debut – to pilot its single full-time entry.
The Spaniard finished 16th in the standings, with the team’s second and third cars being run on a part-time basis and not scoring points, contributing to GRS finishing seventh out of the eight teams in the championship.
In addition to that, it did the full Spanish F4 campaign with single-seater rookie Belen Garcia and picked up its first win in the second race of the season at Navarra.
Lloveras was retained for the 2020 Eurocup season, with Garcia also signed for at least one round to aid with her move up to W Series. In the off-season, GRS also signed ex-Ferrari manager Luca Baldisserri as its chief engineer.
The cancellation of the 2020 W Series season has led to Garcia dropping her Eurocup plans, which has been a contributing factor in GRS withdrawing from the series and Lloveras losing his drive as a result.
Photo: Frederic Le Floc’h / DPPI
“I’m really sad to announce that this year I won’t be racing in Formula Renault Eurocup,” said Lloveras.
“Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the team hasn’t been able to find more drivers and can’t afford the movement of all the structure for only one car.
“I hope for a brilliant future for the Global Racing Service team and I hope to work again with them in the near future!”
GRS’s departure means the Eurocup grid is back down to eight teams, with M2 Competition having recently confirmed its presence by signing SMP Racing junior Mikhael Belov.
FA Racing, which will be run by the revived Manor Competition team that is an offshoot of fellow Eurocup competitor MP Motorsport, is yet to announce any drivers but is expected to field at least two cars in this month’s Monza season opener.
Australian racer Tommy Smith has had to quit his Eurocup seat with JD Motorsport as a result of travel restrictions brought about by the ongoing pandemic, but has already secured a part-time replacement programme in his home country’s regional F3-based S5000 series. The Asian F3 regular may return to international competition later in the year.