08/10/2005
NEWS STORY
The New Zealand team is disappointed to be starting off 14th place on the grid for tomorrow's second round of the A1 Grand Prix at Lausitz in Germany.
Kiwi driver Jonny Reid couldn't maintain the speed he generated in the morning's third and final practice session, slipping slightly off the pace to be starting well behind frontrunners France, USA and Brazil.
After being only 13th in both practice sessions on Friday, the New Zealand team rocketed up the standings to be third, behind Germany and France, after the third and final session of practice – just 6/100ths of a second off the fastest time.
If Reid had equalled his morning session times the Black Beauty would have been in the top four and the 21-year-old said he only had himself to blame.
"I made a few minor mistakes and couldn't recover," Reid said. "It's a superb qualifying format and really exciting for the spectators, but it's pressure-packed for the teams and you just can't afford to slip up at any stage."
Reid is confident the data downloaded from the car will be helpful in determining areas of improvement, but he's mindful of the traffic jam expected on the opening turn.
"When you're in mid-pack you just want to get through the first corner and hope someone doesn't T-Bone you from behind," he said. "I'm sure that if I get through the first part unscathed I can make up a few positions."
The Sprint Race, from a rolling start, lasts 18 laps and determines the final grid positions for the 36-lap Feature Race. Both races carry equal points, ten for winning, nine for second, eight for third and so on, but only the Feature Race offers prize money, $US1,000,000 in total.
The team will take the information gleaned today and work on their race day strategy.
A1 Team.NZL Technical Director Dick Bennetts said all teams have been working hard to find the optimum settings given the EuroSpeedway track has some significant long straights interspersed with a plenty of tight turns on the infield.
"Set up will be all-important and strategies and pit crew performance will be vital given the compulsory pit stop in the Feature Race," Bennetts said.
"We have three options for pitting during the Feature Race and we'll wait and see where we are on the grid and how the race pans out. Tyre degradation, fuel levels and potential stoppages for yellow or red flags will all be factored in."
Most of the 24 nations locked up or spun out at various stages today and Round One champion Nelson Piquet jr said it was not the easiest of circuits.
"This is a real track," Piquet jr said. "Brand's Hatch was a bit small for A1. This is a big circuit with a better structure and it makes for interesting racing."
The weather so far has been perfect for motorsport with warm temperatures and clear skies that are forecast to remain for tomorrow's race day.