With no pre-season testing being completed, Tom Boardman and the STR team had to work quickly to set up the car and get on the pace during the Monza weekend.
With some upgrades to the car over the off season, the Briton needed to feel the effects of the changes in order to maximize the benefits.
During Saturday’s qualifying Boardman improved to set the 14th fastest lap, which was only 70 thousandths of a second outside Q2.
In the first race Boardman got into a great battle for eighth place with Rob Huff and James Nash, but a last-lap contact with Nash forced him to stop in the middle of the track. The team worked hard to fix the SEAT León for and were able to allow Boardman starting Race 2 from the pit lane. He quickly caught up with the pack and by lap 5 he was up to 15th and looking to pass Fredy Barth. Pushing hard though he caught a curb and spun. He rejoined and finished 16th.
“I am hugely disappointed with the result of this weekend, yet am encouraged by our performance both on and off the track. My race pace was good and I am also very pleased with the way that the team worked to get the car fixed for race two. We have to concentrate on those positives and I am looking forward to getting to Marrakech where hopefully I will also have luck with me as well,” said Boardman.