Jefferies ends season on a high

(19) made his presence felt at Monza where he managed to finish in top 10 in the race that was won by Swiss Christopher Zanella.
Zanella powered to victory during Sunday’s sun-soaked final Formula Two race at Monza, leading home Poland’s Kevin Mirocha while Great Britain’s Luciano Bacheta finished third to wrap up the championship title and secure the Williams Formula One test for next year.
According to reports from Monza, practice kicked off on Thursday with Jefferies hitting the ground running by finishing 5th fastest overall, even though it was his first time at the iconic and historic Monza Race circuit in Italy.
Monza is the fastest circuit worldwide where cars hit their fastest speeds due to the long straights.
But that did not frighten the young, brave Zimbabwean. He took on the challenge and was consistently posting fastest times during Thursday and Friday’s practice.
With the 2012 F2 season coming to a close in Italy, tensions were high with three drivers in the running to clinch the title.
Saturday’s qualifying started in wet conditions as the heavens had opened two hours early, making it even more treacherous and daunting for the drivers as they sped down the straights at speeds of over 300km/h.
With qualifying lasting 30 minutes, Jefferies traded blows for the top spot with British-Italian driver Dino Zampirelli and Jefferies was looking good for his first pole position.
Unfortunately luck was not on his side and while lying in first place with two minutes remaining, his car ran out fuel.
He qualified 11th as fastest times all came on the last lap with the drying track.
Saturday’s wet race started off disastrously as Jefferies stalled as the lights went green, falling back to last.
But the young Zimbabwean has always had grit and fought his way back to 10th place by the checkered flag, setting fastest times along the way.
Sunday’s final race of the season was in much better conditions and Jefferies proved once again that he has the pace of the fastest and more experienced guys, finishing 8th and earning points again.
Even though Jefferies missed the first half of the championship, he finished a commendable 12th overall in the championship’s drivers’ standings, sending a warning to his competitors that next year he will be a title contender.
Speaking from Monza in Italy yesterday, Jefferies was delighted with his performance and stated: “I am really happy at my performance. I feel that I am close to my best again. It has been a steep learning curve.
“I have learnt the characteristics of the car and got used to the high speeds again. I just wish the season did not end so soon because I know I am ready for a podium now.
“Had qualifying gone according to plan, we were definitely on for a podium as I have the pace to win now.
“I will be back in Zimbabwe in October and then we’ll start our winter testing so I should be very strong for next year.”
Jefferies’ management team was also excited at the rate of progress shown by the young talented Zimbabwean driver.
“Axcil continues to impress with his speed and technique.
“He works hard and those are the keys to success in this sport. We are very grateful for the support from Axcil sponsors AFRI-HYPE for making this possible, and on behalf of all Zimbabweans we thank AFRI-HYPE for their support and national pride.”
The Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart, also congratulated Jefferies for raising the country’s flag high during the 2012 F2 season in Europe.
“Well done Axcil — you really have flown the Zimbabwean flag wonderfully this season. We are all very proud of you. Strength to your arm,” Coltart said.
Meanwhile, Sunday’s race in Monza was one of the most exciting events for this season.
In one of the closest finishes in the championship’s history, Bacheta and Switzerland’s Matheo Tuscher went head-to-head in the 16th and final race of the thrilling 2012 F2 season, with Tuscher needing to win to have any chance of clinching victory.
As the lights went out, it was Zanella who got the jump on pole-sitter Pommer to lead into the first chicane with Mirocha tucked up in third and Alex Fontana lying fourth.
Bacheta, starting from P7, had made a great start to gain a place and, more importantly, lie ahead of his championship rival.
A lap later Mirocha was able to get the run on Pommer into the first chicane for second with Bacheta also dispatching Fontana. Just behind, Mihai Marinescu was on a charge lying sixth after starting P10 and hot on the heels of Alex.
Tuscher was also coming through the field with a brave move around the outside of Harald Schlegelmilch at the chicane before taking Fontana shortly after, while ahead disaster struck for Pommer with a puncture promoting Bacheta into third.
By the halfway stage Zanella was looking comfortable out in front while 22-year-old Bacheta was starting to close in on Mirocha.
The two were nose-to-tail through Curva Grande with the Brit just unable to find a way past allowing Zanella to extend his lead to over three seconds.
In the end, no one could stop Zanella with the Swiss celebrating the win with some impromptu doughnuts with Mirocha taking second.
F2 Monza Results
1. Christopher Zanella, 21 laps
2. Kevin Mirocha, +4.780s
3. Luciano Bacheta, +6.366s 
4. Mihai Marinescu, +6.957s  
5. Mathéo Tuscher, +7.030s      
6. Alex Fontana, +12.867s
7. Dino Zamparelli, +16.007s
8. Axcil Jefferies, +18.338s
9. Harald Schlegelmilch, +21.106s      
10. Daniel McKenzie, +24.803s
11. David Zhu, +28.260s
12. Max Snegirev, +29.732s
13. Plamen Kralev, +39.624s
14. Markus Pommer, +1lap
15. Hector Hurst, DNF.