2016 race winner, Will Palmer (R-ace GP) scored his first win in the 2017 Formula Renault Eurocup at Monza. Starting second on the grid, the Briton took command at the start to go on for the win ahead of Sacha Fenestraz (Josef Kaufmann Racing) and Max Defourny (R-ace GP). Pole winner, Gabriel Aubry (Tech 1 Racing) retired following an incident with Robert Shwartzman (R-ace GP). Red Bull Junior Team driver Neil Verhagen (MP Motorsport) took top honors among the rookies.
Palmer in control
Will Palmer got an excellent start to take the lead from Gabriel Aubry at the first corner. Behind, Max Defourny held on to third in front of sixth place starter, Robert Shwartzman, and Sacha Fenestraz. On lap two there were battles up and down the order when the safety car was called into service following the incident between Henrique Chaves (AVF by Adrián Vallés) and Alex Peroni (Fortec Motorsports).
Will Palmer kept the top spot when the race resumed on lap six, while Max Defourny was surprised by Robert Shwartzman and Sacha Fenestraz. The Belgian answered, taking the fight to the Frenchman. Meanwhile, Robert Shwartzman closed ground to Gabriel Aubry, but the two made contact on lap 11.
Little troubled in the lead, Will Palmer took the win ahead of Sacha Fenestraz, who resisted the attacks from Max Defrourny. From 11th on the grid, Neil Verhagen overtook Thomas Maxwell on the final lap to take the win among the rookies. Completing the top ten were other newcomers Yifei Ye (Josef Kaufmann Racing), Red Bull Junior Team driver Richard Verschoor (MP Motorsport), Renault Sport Academy member Max Fewtrell (Tech 1 Racing), Alexander Vartanyan (JD Motorsport) and Raúl Guzmán (R-ace GP). Grégoire Saucy finishd the race 12th.
