Van Amersfoort bildet erste Startreihe
11.4.2009 von Wolfgang.
Erste Pole 2009: Vanthoor
Teamchef Frits van Amersfoort hat wieder ein gutes Händchen für seine Fahrerwahl bewiesen. Der Niederländer hat bereits zwei Formel-3-Meister hervorgebracht (1998 Bas Leinders, 2007 Carlo van Dam): Jetzt bilden seine beiden Piloten die ersten Startreihe: der Belgier Laurens Vanthoor sicherte sich die Pole-Position im ersten Qualifying der Saison 2009 in der Motorsport Arena Oschersleben. Neben ihm startet morgen Nachmittag sein Teamkollege Stef Dusseldorp (beide Dallara F307 Volkswagen). Der niederländische Rookie hatte schon bei den Tests in den vergangenen Tagen auf sich aufmerksam gemacht. Startplatz drei geht an den Brasilianer Rafael Suzuki (Dallara F307 Volkswagen) aus dem Team Performance Racing. Ihm fehlten nur 0,059 Sekunden auf Dusseldorp.
Eine tolle Leistung zeigte auch die schnelle Dame Rahel Frey (Dallara F307 Mercedes), die sich die vierte Startposition sicherte. Die Schweizerin hatte zu Beginn des Zeittrainings noch für Herzklopfen bei ihrem Team Jo Zeller Racing gesorgt, als sie nach einem Dreher in der Boxeneinfahrt stehenblieb. Zum Glück sprang ihr Motor wieder an und Frey gelang schnell der Sprung an die Spitze. Die dritte Startreihe bilden der Österreicher Marco Oberhauser, der kurz vor Trainingsschluss von der Strecke flog und der beste Deutsche Markus Pommer (beide Dallara F307 Mercedes). Damit sind auf den ersten sechs Plätzen sechs verschiedene Nationen vertreten.
Großes Pech hatte der Österreicher Bernd Herndlhofer (Dallara F307 Mercedes). Sein Bolide hatte im freien Training einen Getriebeschaden erlitten. Sein Team HS Technik Motorsport versuchte den Schaden zu beheben und schickte Herndlhofer wenige Minuten vor Ende des Qualifyings auf die Strecke. Doch der Österreicher kehrte nach einer Runde wieder in die Box zurück und wird das Rennen morgen von ganz hinten angehen müssen.
Schnellster der ATS Formel-3-Trophy war der Finne Mika Vähämäki (Dallara F304 Opel) vor dem Russen Sergey Chukanov (Arttech F24 Opel). Drittschnellster war der Deutsche Francesco Lopez (Dallara F304 Opel)
Laurens Vanthoor: Das war es, wofür wir den ganzen Winter gearbeitet haben. Es war kein sehr gutes Qualifying, da ich nur zwei schnelle Runden fahren konnte. Ansonsten musste ich auf Flaggen und den Verkehr achten. In meiner schnellsten Runde wäre noch mehr drin gewesen, aber wir stehen auf der Pole und sollten uns nicht beschweren. Etwas anderes als ein Sieg kommt für mich morgen nicht in Frage.
Stef Dusseldorp: Das war mein erstes Formel-3-Qualifying und es war eine spannende halbe Stunde. Am Anfang war noch etwas Öl auf der Strecke, aber nach den ersten Runden wurde der Grip immer besser. Leider musste ich in meiner schnellsten Runde wegen gelben Flaggen abbremsen, aber der zweite Platz ist auch okay. Morgen will ich das Rennen in den Top drei beenden, sonst bin ich nicht gut gefahren.
Rafael Suzuki: Wir haben versucht im freien Training unser Fahrzeug zu verbessern, aber es ist uns noch nicht so ganz gelungen. Laurens zu schlagen war unmöglich, Platz zwei wäre schon drin gewesen. Vor dem ersten Rennen weiß man nie, wo man genau steht. Ich versuche morgen einen guten Start hinzulegen und dann sehe ich, was passiert.
www.formel3.de
Volkswagen confirms six-event IRC programme
11.4.2009 von Wolfgang.
VOLKSWAGEN CONFIRMS PROGRAMME FOR MAURIN … AND ALL THE OTHER NEWS FROM THE IRC
Volkswagen will return to the Intercontinental Rally Challenge when the Rene Georges Rally Sport operation fields a Volkswagen Polo Super 2000 for rising star Julien Maurin.
The French driver, who has tested the car on asphalt in Belgium recently, is due to complete a test on gravel in his native France ahead of his planned outing on Sata Rally Azores from May 7-9, the fourth round of the IRC.
Jack de Keizjer, the co-ordinator of the Belgium-based Rene Georges Rally Sport team, said: "I am happy to confirm that Volkswagen will return to the IRC with the young French driver Julien Maurin."
Maurin recently tested the Volkswagen Polo in Belgium on asphalt. A test on gravel is being planned before Sata Rally Azores.
"He recently tested the Volkswagen Polo in Belgium on asphalt," de Keizjer said.
Maurin, who retired from the Monte Carlo Rally in January when his Astra Racing Fiat Grande Punto developed a mechanical fault, is set to use the latest evolution Volkswagen Polo for his six-event programme. Austrian driver Andreas Waldherr could appear in a second Rene Georges-run Polo.
Maurin will contest six rounds of the IRC in Azores, Belgium (Ypres), Madeira, Czech Republic (Barum), Spain (Astrurias) and Italy (Sanremo).
Frenchman Julien Maurin will contest six IRC rallies this year aboard the Volkswagen Polo S2000
SAFARI WIN BOOSTS MITSUBISHI’S TITLE BID
Mitsubishi closed to within ten points of Peugeot in the battle for the Intercontinental Rally Challenge manufacturers’ crown when Carlo Tundo won his home event, the Safari Rally, in Kenya earlier this month.
The Safari Rally was the third round of this year’s IRC. With Europe-based teams such as the Belgian Kronos Racing operation, Abarth, and the works Skoda team from Czech Republic not competing, it was left to the privateer outfits to take centre stage.
Driving a Mitsubishi Lancer, Tundo, from Kenya, beat expatriate Briton Alistair Cavenagh by a scant 11 seconds as Mitsubishi drivers filled the top-three podium placings, the first time it had achieved a maximum score in the IRC.
Cavenagh had won the opening superspecial in the Kenyan capital Nairobi but couldn’t prevent Tundo from taking the lead. Peugeot now has 36 points compared to the 26 points accumulated by Mitsubishi. Tundo’s heroics on home soil puts him equal second in the drivers’ championship.
Mitsubishi took a maximum points haul from the Safari Rally in Kenya
PASCOAL HOPES TO MAKE ASTURIAS EXPERIENCE PAY
Vitor Pascoal will be hoping to make the most of his local knowledge when he contests two rounds of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge later this season.
Pascoal, from Portugal, will enter the rallies in Azores and Madeira at the wheel of a Peugeot 207. The events also count towards the 35-year-old’s domestic championship programme.
"It won’t be easy for us doing these two events because a lot is expected of us and the competition will be very tough," said Pascoal’s co-driver Mario Castro. "However, we will be trying our best.
"The Azores is not an easy place to rally but because we finished third last year and second in 2007 we know what to expect and we know what we can do."
Sata Rally Azores forms the fourth round of the IRC. It is scheduled to take place from May 7-9.
ACE CYCLIST BETTINI GEARS UP FOR IRC DEBUT
Retired cyclist Paolo Bettini will make his Intercontinental Rally Challenge debut when he contests the Ypres Rally in Belgium from June 18-20.
Bettini, a long-term rally fan, has contested a handful of events in his native Italy in the past.
He has linked up with fellow cyclist Franco Ballarin for an attack on the asphalt-based Ypres Rally in Belgium driving an Abarth Grande Punto. Ballarin will co-drive.
They chose the Ypres Rally because of its location to the Flanders region of Belgium, where they tackled several major cycling races in the past.
Bettini, 34, won several major titles in cycling, including at Olympic and world championship-level. He retired from competing in 2008 following a series of injuries.
Despite having some experience of rallying, Bettini will face a major challenge to adapt to the rigours of driving on the tight and twisty Belgian roads. However, there is a strong precedent for drivers switching from two wheels to four on the IRC: the reining IRC champion Nicolas Vouilloz is a former 10-time downhill mountain bike champion.
www.rally-irc.com
Autosport puts its confidence in Le Mans Series for the second year!
11.4.2009 von Wolfgang.
Whilst awaiting for the next race at Spa Francorchamps, finishing touches are already being made for the last race of the season … The British Magazine, Autosport, a real bible for all competition lovers, renews its faith in Le Mans Series and will be, for the second consecutive year, the principal partner of the 100 km of Silverstone.
Besides a close follow-up during all the season; the magazine, www.autosport.com web site and through them, the powerful press group Haymarket, will particularly support the fifth and last race of the season, on the Silverstone circuit on 11, 12 and 13 September 2009.
Patrick Peter: “We are very pleased about the continuation of this partnership. Autosport and the Haymarket group are a reference in the automobile sport world and their renewed trust, as well as the extremely positive echoes we have received from their readers, can only strengthen our will to create a great show for all car lovers and Endurance supporters in England, and elsewhere!”
www.lemans-series.com
