09/10/2005
NEWS STORY
Sean McIntosh, driving for Canada for the second event, put in a much stronger qualifying performance to take up a position on the 7th row of the grid. His sprint race was steady but solid and sensible and he managed to avoid trouble and then pick up a few places before the end.
Sean McIntosh: "I was taking it patiently at the start and a couple of guys got past.but then they all couldn't make the corner so I was just making sure to have myself on the inside. I think I came out and got a few more guys out the back. Then I got behind Yoong who was making it difficult. I was right with him but he was making really good exits on corners. The car was good – a lot faster than I was doing out there but I was getting held up so I just need to get a good start and get by them in the next race. A top five looks possible."
A top five may have been a dream for Sean, but only 30 minutes later he was running in third. Sean pitted early and then gradually picked off the opposition that pitted later. With pit stops it was difficult for Sean to see which position he had. He knew he was behind A1 Team Great Britain driver Robbie Kerr who'd started from the back but when the team came on the radio to tell him that he was ‘P3' he was amazed and delighted. He held off the challenge from A1 Team New Zealand to take a well deserved podium place at the flag.
Sean McIntosh: "I nearly stalled at the start and lost two positions. I wasn't really on it for the first two laps – I think it was me more than the car. We stopped quite early and I was pushing to try to catch Robbie and considering he started from the back of the grid I didn't know what was going to happen. The team did an excellent job and then I flat spotted both my front tyres and the last ten laps were pretty difficult. I was having to push as much as I could to make sure no-one could get by. It wasn't too challenging it was just keeping enough distance so no one could get by. The team really gave it to me in the pits. They've been fantastic and I couldn't have dreamt of this."
John Village, Team Manager: "Fantastic eh? We've made progress from day one as it were. We were under pressure at the first event because of the timescale that we had to prepare the car. We came here more prepared but still with plenty to do so it can only get better. I would have been happy with a top six – this is better. We'll be partying tonight!"
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