25/06/2010
NEWS STORY
iSport International - Davide Valsecchi (3rd) Oliver Turvey (15th)
iSport drivers Davide Valsecchi and Oliver Turvey had mixed fortunes during qualifying for tomorrow's 32-lap GP2 Series race at the Valencia street circuit, a cocktail of long straights and 25 corners that range from ultra-quick to tight and technical. After scoring his first podium finish of the campaign during the previous meeting at Istanbul Park, Italian Valsecchi underlined the increasing strength of his title challenge with a strong fourth place. Team-mate Turvey had a more problematic time on his first visit to the Spanish venue, however, and starts only 16th.
Davide Valsecchi: That wasn't too bad. Qualifying was slightly compromised by traffic, but that's the same for every driver and even with a clear lap I'm not sure I'd have been quite fast enough to challenge for pole. It's hard to read the track conditions here, because the circuit characteristics change very dramatically as more rubber is laid down. You need to work the tyres quite aggressively at first, to generate some heat, but then as conditions change you have to take a slightly more cautious approach. It's just a question of adapting the set-up to complement the available grip. We made a few small changes during the session and I think those worked well. It is very difficult to overtake here, but I'm well placed to challenge for a podium tomorrow – and victory certainly isn't out of the question.
Oliver Turvey: If a car feels nice to drive, it probably isn't going to be terribly quick – it's an old motor racing adage and that's what happened to me today. I felt comfortable enough on the track and didn't really have any problems, but I simply wasn't fast enough. Davide managed to find a set-up that suited the conditions, but I didn't quite get there and we need to pore over the data to understand why. It will be difficult to work my way into the top eight from here, but that won't stop me trying. It might well be a race of attrition, given the fierce heat and the circuit's unyielding nature, so I'll be looking to keep my nose clean and make progress as and when opportunities arise.
Racing Engineering - Christian Vietoris (7th) Dani Clos (10th)
Racing Engineering had an eventful day in Valencia today. Christian Vietoris, who never raced at the Valencia Street Circuit before, finished today's qualifying session in eighth place after battling traffic all session long, whilst Dani Clos, who was unable to run in the morning practice session because of an electrical problem, was eleventh fastest. Both Racing Engineering drivers are targeting a points finish for tomorrow's feature race through the streets of the Spanish city.
Both drivers had an eventful morning. For Christian Vietoris, who is driving for the first time at the Valencia Street Circuit, it was time to learn the track. He quickly adapted to the Spanish layout and the high temperatures, setting the fourth fastest time in the morning session. Dani Clos, on the other hand, experienced electrical problems which left him unable to complete a single lap. This meant a few busy hours for the Racing Engineering crew to prepare Dani's car for qualifying and a trouble free session in the afternoon was the reward for their hard work. Although the team's work was hampered by the lack of data from Dani's car, the information brought back by Christian allowed the Spanish squad to put two competitive cars on track for qualifying.
The thirty-minute qualifying session under the Spanish sun quickly saw improved lap times compared to the morning session. While Christian was able swiftly set a reference time, he saw his further efforts continuously being hampered by traffic, whilst Dani Clos struggled on his first set of tyres. After the usual stop in the pit lane halfway through the session, the German improved on his time, but again, traffic prevented him from getting the most out of his Racing Engineering car. Christian obtained eighth position for tomorrow's grid, whilst Dani was only able to complete some clean laps and managed to climb to eleventh position.
Starting from eights and eleventh position respectively, Christian and Dani have good chances to score in tomorrow's feature race, which is expected to be hard on tyre wear. Saturday's race, which includes an obligatory pit stop, is scheduled for 32 laps and will take place at 15:40 CET.
Christian Vietoris: "Today started quite well. I still needed to learn the track, so free practice was fine for me. We were quite fast in qualifying, but I had traffic on every single lap. It's a pity as I knew we had the speed. But this shouldn't be an excuse as everyone finds traffic on the track. It's just a bit annoying as I found another car in front of me, slowing me a bit, every lap. But my starting position is fine and with a bit of luck and a good start, scoring points tomorrow should be possible."
Dani Clos: "As we were not able to run in the morning session, qualifying was quite complicated. Trying the car, getting reference points and getting used to the track in one qualifying session is difficult. It's a shame, but I am optimistic for tomorrow. It's a long race where many things can happen. So we will see."
Thomas Couyotopoulo, Sporting Director of Racing Engineering: "Generally, we cannot say this was a bad qualifying, but it was definitely not great as we expected more. But it was also difficult because both our drivers found traffic and the unfortunate electrical problem on Dani's car in free practice resulted in a lack of data and didn't allow the team to do all the work as planned. The entire team did a great job to prepare Dani's car in time for qualifying. But traffic made the session a challenge for Dani and Chris. But some gap was found for them to put a lap in and both cars ran trouble free. For tomorrow, tyre wear will be a crucial factor and 32 laps on a street circuit, many things can happen. Our goal has to be points for both our drivers, which would also allow them to have good starting positions for the sprint race."
Trident Racing - Johnny Cecotto (11th) Adrian Zaugg (14th)
On the stunning frame provided by the Valencia Street Circuit, the 2010 GP2 Main Series entered its fourth round. The series' single qualifying session decided the starting grid for Saturday's race day. Trident Racing's Johnny Cecotto took 12., while South African Adrian Zaugg ended up in 15.
In the end, Qualifying results didn't reflect the team's and the cars' true potential, although chances and expectations for an happy ending are standing still for Race 1.
The weekend at Valencia will continue tomorrow with the first race of the event, set for 15:40 on a 34-lap distance. Race 2 will be starting on Sunday at 10:35. Live TV coverage will be provided by RaiSportSat.
Johnny Cecotto Jr: "It was the first time I was running on this track, and I immediately found a good feel with it. I'm glad of how the day ended, even though I regret losing some time during my last lap due to blocking. If we look at the results, without that incident I could have been easily into the top-8. However, I'm aware of my good potential, and to have a car that can enable me to score valuable points. I hope that tomorrow's race will develop in a linear way, with no issues, and to clinch a well-deserved good result."
Adrian Zaugg: "I made a mistake and I shouldn't have. I started running quite good in Practice, as I found a good balance with the car and a positive feeling with the track. I was being really optimistic about ending up at the top end of the charts in Qualifying, until I locked brakes in the closing stages and damaged a tire. My day ended without taking advantage of my second set of tires. In that lap I had improved by 0.2 seconds, with the solid possibility to end with a good spot on the grid, and then it was over. It's a pity, but I'm really focused in recovering on tomorrow's Race 1."
Super Nova Racing - Josef Kral (17th) Marcus Ericsson (19th)
A tough weekend lays ahead for Super Nova, qualifying today amongst a tight grid, the team finished P17 and P19 in a session that saw the eighteen quickest cars covered by just one second.
As they took to the streets of Valencia, GP2 ran on soft compound dry Bridgestone tyres for the first time this season. In balmy 28°C conditions this afternoon the team made a strong start, Marcus Ericsson signing a P4 position, Josef Kral a few places back, on their first set of tyres.
However emerging from the pit lane mid session, and unable to gain any time, the drivers find themselves towards the back of the grid for tomorrows' race. Adding to the teams' challenge, Ericsson must endure a ten place penalty brought forward from an incident on the track at the last round in Istanbul, placing him P24 for Saturday's grid.
Josef Kral: "This is not ideal at all. On the first set, I was confident we could do a fast lap. The car felt better, and I was always quick in the last sector, and was sure we could improve on the second run, so we didn't make any changes. But on the second set, which were already used I just couldn't improve, however much I pushed. I had a tough sector followed by a bit of over-steer, so in the end I saved the tyres and we'll see what we can do tomorrow."
Marcus Ericsson: "We were looking very positive to start with, P4 is the best position we've been so far this season. The car felt very good, so I thought we would have a good session. But in the second run, if I'm honest I tried a bit too hard to find some time. I wanted to a really good performance for the team. In these cars if you drive aggressively, it's easy to lose time, which I did while others improved. P19 is pretty average, but the performance in the car was there, as we have seen, so I guess this is a learning curve we have to learn from, and now I'm just looking forward to the race."
David Sears Team Principal: "Both our drivers continued their steep learning curve in GP2. Marcus Ericsson was looking very good with P4 on his first set of tyres, but made a couple of mistakes on his second set that dropped him to P19. Unfortunately Marcus has to start at the back, following his collision with Adrian Zaugg at the last race. Josef Kral was looking good for P9 on his first set of tyres, but then he could not find time later on, to finish P17.
With eighteen cars on the grid covered by one second, if you make a couple of mistakes you pay a big penalty. Hopefully from the next race, Silverstone onwards, both drivers know the tracks and should automatically start in a better places as result."