26/04/2009
NEWS STORY
DAMS - Jerome d'Ambrosio (2nd) Kamui Kobayashi (5th)
Today in the last round of the 2008-09 Asian GP2 Series Championship on the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain, DAMS finished its campaign in the best possible manner with a place on the rostrum. Jerome d'Ambrosio made another of his spectacular comebacks to finish second. Once again the Belgian driver set the fastest lap in the race, and proved that he was the quickest man on the track over the weekend.
By scoring 6 points this morning Jerome snatched second place overall in the drivers' classification giving DAMS a clean sweep: a double in the drivers' championship and the title in the teams' ratings.
Next stop: the first round of the 2009 GP2 Series Championship on the Barcelona circuit in two weeks' time.
Jean-Paul Driot: Team Principal: "Bravo to Jerome for having shown real racing intelligence, and for having shown patience to seize 2nd place at the right moment. I'm very happy that he has sealed the runner-up spot. He fully deserves his s econd place in the championship, after having made exemplary progress. We're leaving Bahrain with the feeling that we've accomplished our aims. This weekend's successes give an additional boost to DAMS' s motivation for the rest of the year!"
Eric Boullier, team manager: "We knew that Jerome had a chance of snatching second place in the championship in the last race today. He didn't miss the opportunity, and drove magnificently managing to get past some very tough rivals after a long battle. So he's now one of the favourites for the main series that starts in two weeks in Spain. The championship has finished on highest possible note for DAMS. Once again I'd like to thank all the team members and our supporters as well as all those who sent us their congratulations."
Jerome d'Ambrosio: "I began the weekend in a very aggressive frame of mind, and my approach paid off. Fastest lap in qualifying, two rostrum finishes and two fastest laps: it would have been difficult to do better, and I'm delighted with what I've shown in Bahrain. My aim is to keep up the momentum and fight at the front in the GP2 Series."
Kamui Kobayashi: "It's difficult to overtake on this circuit, and I couldn't see off Yamamoto. It's a pity, as I'd have liked to have been on the rostrum with Jerome to celebrate a fantastic season. But I'm convinced we'll have other opportunities to spray the champagne!"
Trident Racing - Davide Rigon (3rd) Ricardo Teixeira (DNF)
Trident Racing took a really valuable third-place finish today, in the final race of the 2008-2009 GP2 Asia Series. After starting from the front row, following to yesterday's finish position, Davide Rigon, completed a totally flawless race. He kept Jerome D'Ambrosio behind in the first 21 laps, only surrendering during the penultimate lap. Ricardo Teixeira had a less lucky day, as he was forced to retire by the overheating in the initial stages. Trident Racing will now fully concentrate on the start of the 2009 GP2Main Series Season, set to start in a two-week time on the Spanish Barcelona racetrack. Drivers Teixeira and Rigon will stay on board in the top series too.
Davide Rigon: "I'm really satisfied with today's result. It's a great way to carry momentum into the Main Series' start, coming in just a few days. It's also a true confidence boost for me as well as for the whole team. I had a really good start, but it wasn't quite easy to keep D'Ambrosio behind for so many laps. In the first sector I was fastest, but then he kept catching me in the second half of the lap and I knew that any little mistake could have cost me the position. In the final laps the car's performance started to fade, but making it to the podium in front of the whole crowd and all the F1 insiders has been great. I'm at my third GP2 race, and I believe the car has improved a lot. For the first time, I'll race on a known track at Barcelona. That will definitely help."
Ricardo Teixeira: "At the start, two cars I had in front didn't take off, forcing me to slow down and lose positions. Also at the first corner I found a stuck car on the track and couldn't avoid it, damaging the front wing. My day didn't last much longer though, as after having stabilized on a decent pace the water temperature started to rise, eventually leading me to retirement. Nonetheless, I'm still positive about how my learning program is going. I'm heading towards Barcelona, where I entered the collective GP2 tests, with a lot more reference points..."
GFH team iSport - Giedo van der Garde (7th) Hamad Al Fardan (17th)
GFH team iSport drivers Giedo van der Garde and Hamad Al Fardan completed their final race of the GP2 Asia Series this morning. With the Championship decided in yesterday's Feature Race it was the final opportunity for the drivers to shine before the GP2 Series begins in Barcelona in a 2 weeks time.
Starting from P4 on the reverse grid, Dutch GFH team iSport driver van der Garde lost ground at the start and after a brief safety car period fought hard with yesterday's race winner Diego Nunes over P6. Van der Garde took the chequered flag in P7 just shy of the points but finishes the season as the 3rd best rookie in a very competitive series.
Van der Garde's team mate, Hamad Al Fardan had a difficult task today starting from the back of the grid after his DNF in yesterday's Feature Race. The safety car period did not help Al Fardan's efforts and in the short sprint Al Fardan finished P17.
We would like to thank Gulf Finance House and our sponsors and suppliers for their support in what has been a challenging and exciting GP2 Asia Series.
My Qi-Maritus_Mahara - Marco Bonanomi (8th) Alvaro Parente (13th)
Portugal's Alvaro Parente and Italy's Marco Bonanomi finished with the two cars in 11th and 8th places in this afternoon's 23-lap race in the last race of the season of the GP2 Asia Series. Parente earned the My Qi-Meritus.Mahara team a point after setting the fastest lap.
The My Qi-Maritus_Mahara cars started in 14th and 21st places respectively on a very hot 36 degrees track. After the start of the race they made it through the first corner accident in 9th and 15 place, as 5 cars were involved.(Rodriguez, Chandock, Valsecchi, Gonzales, Maldonado) That incident brought the safety car in for a lap. After the first ten laps Parente had gained two positions and was running in 13th with a regular pace of 1.47.949.
Alvaro Parente said: "I am quite disappointed to leave the season having scored only one point for the team at their home Grand Prix. I enjoyed very much racing for My Qi-Meritus.Mahara. I liked their dedication and the warmth of the Questnet fans.
This race went well, but was not long enough. I started from 21st and finished ten positions higher. Giacomo Ricci made it difficult in the last lap. At the start, I was a bit careful to avoid the first corner incident. Then later I pushed and gained more places during the race. There was not much else we could do to improve, but I did set good laps in 1.48.432. A good end of the season with MY Qi-Meritus.Mahara. It is always hard to come in the middle of a season and try to resolve the small and big problems. The atmosphere in the team is very professional and that saved the season. "
Marco Bonanomi said: "I was inside and did not get involved in the first lap incident, but close to! I am glad that the safety car after the accident did not destroy the pace of our race. After avoiding the first corner accident everything worked well. The car showed good potential. In the last laps of the race, I was able to move up one place and finish the race in 8th. Unfortunately this position did not earn points in race 2!Too bad I came in late with the team this year. I regret that I have not attended all the races. I hope to be with the team next season to maximise the potential. I want to thank all for the wonderful work we did together."
Peter Thompson, team founder, said: "Possibly our best race of the season with two cars in top ten. It is a very positive way to end. The season is over now and I would like to thank the team, the engineers, the mechanics, the drivers and our sponsor QuestNet for their efforts. We scored one podium in the season. This shows the potential of the team and we cannot wait for a third season to start in Abu Dhabi the last race of the season for F1."
Raad S. Abduljawad, Team Chairman, My Qi-Meritus.Mahara commented: "Marco Bonanomi and Alvaro Parente did a good job, but the second season is always the hardest. We had positive additions and good feedback in the second half. Now we have to sit-down and see how we can target forces for a third year together."
Durango - Michael Dalle Stelle (19th) Davide Valsecchi (DNF)
It has been a peculiar weekend in Banrain for the whole Durango team. Started with the best attitude and the highest commitment, the two drivers had not been able to perform at their best.
After today retirement Davide Valsecchi, a bit sadly, said: "I am very sorry for the way this championship came to an end. From the free practice on I had a very good and extremely competitive car. After some inconvenients during race 1, I was ready to fight for the podium during race 2. Now I am looking forward to the next GP2 Main Seiries championship."
Michael Dalle Stelle said: "I hoped for something better but many wrong things happened. The asian championship is very difficult but I increased my experience getting better with my job race after race, Then I felt very well inside the team and I established a very good feeling with my race engineer".
Ivone Pinton, team principal: "Motorsport is made even of this kind of moments. Anyway I am satisfied about mt driver performancs and about the job delivered up till now by my team".
Fisichella Motor Sport International - Kevin Chen (18th) Rodolfo Gonzalez (DNF)
Fisichella Motor Sport International wrapped up its GP2 Asia Series season today as the championship moved to Bahrain as a support event to the Formula One World Championship. FMSI regulars Rodolfo Gonzalez and Kevin Chen were in action for the team this weekend, and faced the stifling hot conditions of the Bahrain event.
Free practice and qualifying took place on Friday on the 5.412 Hermann Tilke designed track. Rodolfo completed 14 laps of practice, finishing 14th fastest with a time of 1:45.567. Kevin was 24th fastest with a lap of 1:48.392. Rodolfo was compromised in qualifying and ended up with a time of 1:44.747 to set him up on the ninth row for the feature race in 18th position. Kevin maintained his practice performance and set the 24th fastest qualifying lap with a time of 1:46.428 to line up on the 12th row.
Saturday's 33-lap feature race was not lucky for the FMSI team. On the opening lap Kevin was touched by one of the DPR drivers, which pushed
him into an accident, costing him the race. Rodolfo had a good start but was then hampered by a technical problem, which forced him into retirement on lap 16. Rodolfo's luck did not improve on Sunday when he was pushed out of the 23-lap sprint race on the first lap, ending his race before it had begun. It was a more fruitful day for Kevin, who began the race in 23rd and moved up the order, crossing the line in 18th position.
Paolo Coloni, Team Principal: "In yesterday's race Kevin had an accident on the first corner when someone from DPR touched which ended his race. Rodolfo had a good start but then had the drive through and then had technical problems. Today Rodolfo retired on the first corner but Kevin was able to drive a solid race to 18th. It is a shame that in both races we lost a car in each on the first corner but that is racing. It was a positive day today for Kevin but we are sorry that Rodolfo could not finish a race. His pace has been good all weekend but he did not have any luck."