08/05/2009
NEWS STORY
Fat Burner Racing Engineering - Lucas Di Grassi (2nd) Dani Clos (17th)
The new GP2 season kicked off today at the Circuito de Cataluña, near Barcelona, where both Fat Burner Racing Engineering drivers, Lucas Di Grassi and Dani Clos, had a trouble free day and will start tomorrow's race from 2nd and 17th place respectively.
While several drivers suffered problems during the free practice session, both Fat Burner Racing Engineering drivers had trouble free runs. However, the various yellow flags during the 30-minutes session hampered Lucas and Dani's attempts to improve their lap times and they finished the session in 4th and 13th position respectively.
Qualifying saw both Fat Burner Racing Engineering drivers in top positions quickly. While Dani set very competitive times at the beginning of the session, he was not able to improve his lap time after the second set of new tyres was mounted. Unable to complete a good lap without traffic, the spanish driver had to settle for 17th at the end, a result he was not that happy about.
Lucas, on the other hand, was able to run a clean lap towards the end of the session, when the Fat Burner Racing Engineering mechanics had already mounted the second set of new tyres onto his Dallara GP2 car. But even this lap was not as perfect as he would have liked as he was blocked by another driver, which resulted in Lucas being in second position, 0.021 seconds behind pole position.
Lucas Di Grassi: "This was a difficult qualifying session as I encountered too much traffic on track. With my first set of tyres I struggled a bit due to the traffic and I couldn't find a gap to set a fast time. On my second set of tyres I had only one clean lap and I was able to set a time only 0.021 off pole. The traffic is a real issue here. Tomorrow's race will be interesting due to the tyre wear as well. Our car is really good and the team did a great job. Everything worked well and we are in a good position to win tomorrow's race".
Dani Clos: "Things were going well when I went out with my first set of new tyres; the set up worked well and I was in a really good position. However, when I tried to improve my lap time with my second set of new tyres, it was impossible to complete a clean lap. There was so much traffic and I wasn't able to improve my time. Nevertheless, I am happy with the team's work and I am looking forward to tomorrow's race, although it won't be easy starting so far back on the grid".
Alfonso de Orleáns-Borbón: "I am very happy with Lucas' front row qualifying position. It's a pity he was blocked on his fast lap as I am sure he would have made pole position. Dani faced a similar situation. While he was up there at the beginning of the session, he had no clean lap to improve his time during the second half of qualifying. The whole team did a fantastic job as usual. Now we have to prepare tomorrow's race the best we can".
DAMS - Jerome d'Ambrosio (7th) Kamui Kobayashi (22nd)
Today, DAMS took part in free practice and qualifying for the opening round of the 2009 GP2 Series Championship on the Montmelo circuit. After winning the drivers' and teams' titles in the Asian GP2 Series two weeks ago, the team's aim is to fight at the front in the championship that is just beginning.
Unfortunately, Kamui Kobayashi was in for an unpleasant surprise in this morning's free practice. The Japanese driver ran into an engine problem that prevented him from practising. The Mecachrome engineers solved it in time for qualifying, and Kamui had to start his weekend in the most important session of the meeting. So it was no surprise that he was unable to fight his corner, and he finished twenty-second overall.
Jerome d'Ambrosio had a much better day. He ended the morning's practice in twelfth place due to traffic and yellow flags, and in qualifying the Belgian set the seventh-quickest time. He will start from sixth on the grid thanks to one of his rivals being penalised. Jerome was on the pace right from the start of practice confirming that he will be one of the drivers to watch this season.
Eric Boullier: "Hats off to Jerome who, today, confirmed the potential we glimpsed in the Asian GP2 Series this winter. He made steady progress throughout practice, and we can look forward to a strong race tomorrow. On the other hand, I'm very sorry for Kamui. It's a real pity to begin the championship with an engine problem. He's going to have a difficult race, but he's shown in the past that spectacular comebacks don't scare him. He'll put on a great show tomorrow."
Jerome d'Ambrosio: "My aim was to finish in sixth place and I achieved it today. In the dying moments of qualifying I set out to improve my time, but yellow flags waved after an accident forced me to abort my flying lap. I could have been a little higher up the grid but we lacked that little extra to go for the front row. Tomorrow, my aim is to push very hard and above all to see the finishing line. I want to open my score as quickly as possible."
Kamui Kobayashi: "The day didn't get off to a great start and after being reduced to the role of a spectator in the only free practice session, I didn't have enough running time to find my marks in qualifying. My twenty-second place is disappointing but it's better to forget it and concentrate on the race itself. It's not over till the chequered flag and I'll seize the slightest opportunity that comes my way."
iSport International - Diego Nunes (8th) Giedo van der Garde (18th)
It is Round 1 of the 2009 GP2 Series at the Circuit de Catalunya this weekend and iSport are back in action with new drivers Diego Nunes and GP2 Asia driver Giedo van der Garde.
The first Qualifying session of the season took place this afternoon and on the back of his good form in GP2 Asia, Diego Nunes will start from P7 for tomorrow's feature race. iSport driver Giedo van der Garde had less luck as he was knocked by DPR driver Giacomo Ricci on his first flying lap. This unfortunately bent the steering on van der Garde's iSport car leaving him in P18 and unable to complete a clean run on his second set of tyres.
Diego Nunes: "We are going to start tomorrow in P7. The car was very good actually we just found the set up for qualifying was a little too much for the rear and I think we lost most of the lap in the last sector, maybe one or two tenths which would have put us in P3. Buts it's ok as we know we have a good car for the race and the race will be difficult but possible to be in the top 3 again".
Giedo van der Garde: "Obviously I am very disappointed. I was on a good lap and Ricci turned in on me causing me to spin. It bent the steering I think but there was no time to fix it in qualifying so I went out on a new set of tyres and did the best I could with the steering problems. We should have a good set up for the race so we'll aim for a points finish as the tyres are going to be very difficult in the long race so I think I can make up some places"
Trident Racing - Davide Rigon (19th) Ricardo Texeira (25th)
The 5th season of the GP2 Main Series took off today at Barcelona. Trident Racing fielded Davide Rigon and Ricardo Teixeira, both at their first race experience in the series. Both cars suffered from high traffic situations: Davide ended up in 19th, while Ricardo spent the day in trying to familiarize with the package, used just in the last collective test, and clocked the 25th fastest lap. Tomorrow's race is scheduled to take off at 16:00, on a 39-lap distance with live broadcast by SKY TV. The weekend will then end with the second race, planned for Sunday morning.
Davide Rigon: "After a positive practice session, I started qualifying by clocking a quite decent lap with the first set of tires, despite traffic. With the second set of tires I was unable to round a great lap due to a loss of grip we're investigating right now. Race 1 will be surely tough, but tire wear might become a key variable, handing some surprises. I hope to fight back and push myself near the points zone."
Ricardo Texeira: "In the morning practice session we completed the job we scheduled despite an annoying brake problem. Unfortunately, I have not been so lucky on qualifying. With the first set of tires, I made a mistake that cost me a lot of time. Then, when I took off for my second run, I exited the pits behind 6 slowing cars! At that point, there wasn't much to do. I hope to complete Race 1 and improve my position to have a better starting spot on Sunday".
Durango - Davide Valsecchi (20th) Nelson Panciatici (24th)
Beginning of the championship under the expectations for Durango on the beautiful Barcelona circuit. Davide Valsecchi qualified twentieth, Nelson Panciatici twentyfourth. Davide has been slowed by handling problems, Nelson has not been able to fully exploit the new tyres. "We have not been able to be so effective as we should have to. - Ivone Pinton said - In such circumstances a team must simply not demoralize and concentrate very well on the race".