Racing

Pic heads Addax 1-2 in qualifying

Sunday, 20 May 2012 11:44

Charles Pic pipped teammate Giedo van der Garde for pole position in tomorrow's feature race in Valencia, claiming the top spot in the final minute of this afternoon's qualifying session to complete the front row for Addax at their home circuit just before Romain Grosjean found the wall from P3 and brought the session to an end.

Pic crossed the line just seconds before his countryman's accident with a time of 1:46.675, stealing pole from his teammate by just 0.052. Grosjean's best lap was also within a tenth of the top spot in a session where the action was just as hot as the scorching temperature.

A black cat ran across the circuit just as the lights went green to release the field, but if anyone was worried that it was an ill omen they were soon proved wrong: Jules Bianchi, Sam Bird, Grosjean, Pic and Esteban Gutierrez claimed and re-claimed the top spot as they all looked for an advantage on the tight and twisty circuit.

But it was van der Garde who looked to have a lock on the session with a scintillating lap just before halfway, with his rivals forced to concede and return for a new set of tyres and a chance to find some improvement. Most of the field were back out a few minutes later as Johnny Cecotto spun and stopped at turn 2, bringing out the red flags and annoying those who were on their hot laps.

With only a few minutes remaining once the session went live, the drivers was soon tripping over each other in pursuit of a clean lap: a number of them found the pace for a fast sector, but it looked as though no one was going to be able to string them together until Pic stunned the pitlane with a super lap with 2 minutes remaining.

Grosjean was in P3 and hoping for more, but he pushed just too hard: the Frenchman ran over the kerbs and slid into the wall, prompting the red flags as the clock ran down to zero. He will start alongside Luca Filippi tomorrow, with Gutierrez, Bird, Dani Clos and Davide Valsecchi just behind them. And with 13 drivers within a second of pole, and 25 within 2 seconds, the action promises to be even more torrid in the race tomorrow afternoon.

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F2: Monras leads the way in practice two at Spa

Sunday, 20 May 2012 11:44

Spaniard Miki Monras led the way during today's (Friday) second free practice session in the 2011 FIA Formula Two Championship at Spa but it was F2 newcomer Jordan King who stole the show by going third fastest.

Former race-winner Monras, 19, recorded a 2:09.124s around the 7.004km Belgium circuit closely followed by Romanian Mihai Marinescu. However, it was Brit King, the youngest ever F2 driver at the age of only 17, who impressed the most during the 45-minute session.

Ramon Pineiro, who went quickest in the day's earlier session, was fourth with Alex Brundle recovering after a slow start this morning to complete the top five.

Track conditions were much improved for the day's second free practice stint but conditions were still slippery in places with Jack Clarke, who ended the session ninth overall, and James Cole both spinning.

Meanwhile Julian Theobald was impressing at the wheel of his 500bhp JPH1B F2 car running in the top 10 mid-way through before ending 13th overall.

Swiss driver Christopher Zanella went sixth fastest with Mirko Bortolotti and Tobias Hegewald just behind the championship leader with Will Bratt, who was on pole here back in 2008 in F3, in 10th spot.

Speaking afterward Monras said: “Towards the end of the session I decided to put on a new set of tyres and we didn’t make any mistakes so the lap time was there. I think I can still improve a little bit but the important issue is that we are in the top and there is good confidence to go into qualifying tomorrow.

“This is my favourite track, it’s incredible. In a Formula Two car it’s even better because you are a lot faster in Eau Rouge and the other corners.”

Tomorrow's qualifying session gets underway at 10:20 (local time) with full coverage on the official F2 website.

Spa results, Free Practice Two:

1. Miki Monras, 2:09.124s
2. Mihai Marinescu, +0.498s
3. Jordan King, +0.520s
4. Ramon Pineiro, +0.999s
5. Alex Brundle, +1.155s
6. Christopher Zanella, +1.438s
7. Mirko Bortolotti, +1.442s
8. Tobias Hegewald, +1.497s
9. Jack Clarke, +1.720s
10. Will Bratt, +1.726s

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F2: Pineiro tops the timesheets at Spa

Sunday, 20 May 2012 11:44

19-year-old Ramon Pineiro was the quickest driver during the opening free practice session for rounds five and six of the 2011 FIA Formula Two Championship at Spa.

The Spaniard put in a late surge to post a best time of 2:11.434s around the cold and slightly damp 7.004km current Formula One circuit. Italian driver Mirko Bortolotti was second fastest for the session with Brit Jack Clarke, who secured a best result of fifth when he raced here in 2009, third fastest.

Will Bratt, who earlier this month headed the timesheets during the test session at the all-new Snetterton 300 circuit, was fourth with Mihai Marinescu rounding out the top five.

Dutchman Kelvin Snoeks produced one of his best performances so far this season to go sixth quickest with Tobias Hegewald, who dominated the 2009 F2 races here, in seventh and championship leader Christopher Zanella in eighth. Thiemo Storz, another strong runner at the Snetterton 300 test, and Miki Monras completed the top 10.

Pineiro, who set the fastest lap of the race when he raced here during the 2008 Formula BMW Europe series, said: "The track was very tricky, there were three corners that were still wet, but I got a good set up and it's the first time I've raced here with a low downforce set up.

“My tyres were good in the session but the track was still damp. I wasn't pushing my hardest because I knew the difference on the damp area would be the key point, but hopefully it will be dry in the next session and we'll keep working."

Free Practice Two gets underway at 14:05 (local time).

Spa results, Free Practice One:

1. Ramon Pineiro, 2:11.434s
2. Mirko Bortolotti, +0.226s
3. Jack Clarke, +0.469s
4. Will Bratt, +0.565s
5. Mihai Marinescu, +0.732
6. Kelvin Snoeks, +1.035s
7. Tobias Hegewald, +1.069s
8. Christopher Zanella, +1.181s
9. Thiemo Storz, +1.752s
10. Miki Monras, +1.853s

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GP2: Bianchi steals top spot in practice

Sunday, 20 May 2012 11:44

Jules Bianchi stole an early march on his rivals by claiming the fastest lap on a final dash for the flag on the last lap in this morning's free practice, pushing countryman Romain Grosjean down the timesheets as Bianchi greeted the chequered flag at the end of the session ahead of Giedo van der Garde and Luca Filippi.

Bianchi's best time of 1:47.681 was less than a tenth ahead of the Dutchman, but it will give the Frenchman hope that he can put his early season troubles behind him as he looks to close down the points difference in the Series tables, as well as on the time sheets.

The session got under way in hot conditions but under a blanket of cloud as Lotus ART teammate Esteban Gutierrez set the early pace, but Series leader Grosjean soon resumed normal service by taking the top spot for himself: when Josef Kral spun and stalled at turn 14 the red flags were out immediately, denying the opportunity for a fight back as everyone returned to the pits for new tyres.

When the track went green again everyone set about cutting into the Frenchman's laptime, with Sam Bird, Gutierrez and Christian Vietoris all giving Grosjean something to consider, but when Pal Varhaug stopped at turn 14 the red flags looked to have brought an early end to the session: however, happily the track was clear with 3 minutes remaining, handing everyone one last chance for glory.

Grosjean was the first man on track but was held up by late pitlane exiters next time round: everyone else was running faster than before and it was Bianchi who claimed the one lap honours, ahead of van der Garde and Filippi. Grosjean had to accept P4, ahead of Charles Pic, Dani Clos, Bird and Gutierrez, all of whom will be looking for revenge in this afternoon's qualifying session at the technically demanding circuit.

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F2: Sureshwaren: "It's good to be back"

Sunday, 20 May 2012 11:44

After a one-round absence, Parthiva Sureshwaren says he's pleased to be back behind the wheel of his F2 single-seater and can't wait to compete in the next rounds at Spa this weekend.

The Indian driver, one of his country's leading talents, was forced to miss the last rounds at Magny-Cours due to problems with his sponsors. After resolving the issues, the 30-year-old is delighted to be rejoining the rest of the F2 field as Formulatwo.com discovered when it caught up with him during the recent test session at the all-new Snetterton 300 circuit.

"It's good to be back," says Parthiva who began racing in F2 last year scoring his maiden points finish at Monza. "I had a problem with my sponsors ahead of Magny-Cours which meant I was unable to race which was a shame. I'm really looking forward to the rounds at Spa and to be back racing again in F2, especially as I've heard such good things about the track."

Having never been to the Belgium track before, Parthiva knows it's going to be a challenge but is still relishing the chance to race on the world-famous Formula One venue. "I don't have any experience of Spa so I'll have to try and learn the track as quickly as possible, although I have 'raced' on it in video games so at least a know the layout!"

Be sure to follow Parthiva and all the F2 racers for rounds five and six at Spa (24-26 June) on the FIA Formula Two website and also live coverage on Motors TV.

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