01/11/2009
NEWS STORY
DAMS - Christian Vietoris (1st) Edoardo Piscopo (7th)
This weekend saw DAMS contest the first two races of the 2009/2110 GP2 Asia series which took teams to the spectacular and demanding circuit of Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi. DAMS fielded an all-new driver line-up for the occasion, with Germany's Christian Vietoris, 20, defending the team's colours alongside 21-year old Edoardo Piscopo from Italy.
The event was marked by searing heat and there wasn't a trace of rubber on the track to begin with. As a consequence, the amount of grip evolved considerably over the three day-meeting, making life particularly delicate for the engineers and drivers alike as the balance of the cars changed ceaselessly throughout the weekend.
Christian recovered from a difficult run in qualifying to produce a solid first race, climbing eight places to finish in the points and earn himself a start on the second row for today's clash. This time round, the German profited from a faultless getaway to lead from the start and collect a flag-to-flag win.
A somewhat frustrating weekend saw Edoardo complete the two races in ninth and seventh places respectively, finishing just shy of the points on both occasions.
Christian's victory did honour to DAMS' number one status and underlined the team's determination to defend the crown it won in last year's championship. The next race will take teams back to the same venue on February 5-6, 2010.
Jean-Paulo Driot (CEO): "It was a good weekend for our two new recruits. We are currently at the stage where we are getting to know each other, and nothing can replace race experience when it comes to bonding a team together. The track conditions kept our engineers on their toes throughout, but they rose well to the challenge of the new circuit here in Abu Dhabi. Christian recovered from his disappointing run in qualifying to put in two great races. Although Edoardo failed to pick up any points, his pace showed that he has a place up there with the best of them."
Christian Vietoris: "My weekend didn't begin very well, and qualifying was quite difficult for me, but I'm pleased with the way the following two days went because just we kept on improving after that. I managed to claw back quite a few places during the first race and I had no intention of wasting the fact that I was able to start this morning's race from the second row. It's been a very encouraging weekend for the rest of the season."
Edoardo Piscopo: "I'm reasonably pleased with my first taste of the GP2 Asia series. I didn't make any mistakes and I finished both races, so that's encouraging. That said, my aim had been to finish in the points, and I narrowly missed out on that. It's obviously frustrating, but I'm sure I will meet my objective next time. I have a great car and the team is first class; I can't ask for any more than that! The circuit here in Abu Dhabi is technically very challenging, and very long too, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience."
Super Nova Racing - Josef Kral (3rd) James Jakes (10th)
Super Novas rookie driver Josef Kral proved a force to be reckoned with today, taking to the podium in his first ever GP2 Asia weekend, and rewarded four points for his performance.
The 19 year Czech got a strong start, avoiding the troubled Trident car on the grid to run second behind DAMS driver Christian Vietoris for all but the last lap. The two leaders managed to comfortably pull away from the rest until a safety car was deployed, which cost them their cushioning. Josef fought off a persistent Davide Valsecchi, until at Turn 11 on the final lap, Isports attempts were finally successful and Josef finished third at the chequered flag.
Yesterday's third place man James Jakes was unlucky today. Having got off the grid smoothly the Brit was forced wide at the first corner and could only finish 10th. His race pace was impressive, but try as he might to pass, James got held up and finished behind DPR's Michael Herek.
After round one, Super Nova currently sits second in the Teams' championship until racing resumes in Abu Dhabi on 5-7th February 2010.
Josef Kral: "I am really, really happy today. It was a pretty good race, I know we could do even better, but a great result for my first GP2 weekend! The start was amazing. Cecotto stalled in front of me I think, and avoiding him cost me a lot of time, but still I moved up to P2 and was able to really push for the first few laps. There was a bit of under steer early on but by mid race the car was fantastic and was we were running quickest! But at the end of the safety car, the cars came together and Valsecchi closed in on me. He had a great race and managed to pass on the last lap. But still I have learned a lot from today and yesterday and will go away and think about everything I've experienced here. Every race will help, so I'm really looking forward to the next round"
James Jakes: "The start was great actually, by the first corner I was up to fifth, but I was pushed out and had to run wide of a Trident car, which kind of ruined it for me today. It was a difficult race, but we were definitely on the pace. We got some points this weekend, yesterday was good, so I'm looking forward to the next race here. We have all had a lot of time on track here now, so we are all in the same boat, but it will be good to come back here in February."
David Sears - Team Principal: "Another great day for Super Nova, finishing the weekend second place in the Teams championship is a positive start to the season. Both drivers have shown they are capable and on the pace. Josef Kral ran in strong second place until the very last lap, but I believe he will improve more and more with experience. James Jakes was unlucky today. He was forced wide early on, but again was very quick throughout the race. This is great motivation for the team, and we will be ready to challenge for the title again in Abu Dhabi in February, after the Christmas break!"
Trident Racing - Johnny Cecotto (6th) Plamen Kralev (DNF)
Trident Racing experienced a successful weekend at Abu Dhabi, in the first round of the 2009/2010 GP2 Asia Series. The Italian team made it for the second time to a points finish with Johnny Cecotto. The Venezuelan paied the price of a bad start, but recovered up to the 6th spot after ending lap 1 in 8th.
Plamen Kralev was less lucky after he ended up his day after spinning in avoidance of a stalled car. Trident Racing is set to be back running in a few days, entering Paul Ricard's collective Main Series test from November 10 to 12. The Asia series will be back in February, running once again on the Yas Marina track in Abu Dhabi.
Johnny Cecotto Jr: "Once again, I haven't been lucky at the start, as I could just move slightly when red lights went off. I lost several spots in the attempt to get revs back up, and then I followed Valsecchi all-race long, being faster than him in several corners but failing to get his slipstream on the straight. In the final half I had Piscopo behind, and I managed to avoid giving too much space. I'm satisfied with how ended up, despite the starts prevented us from scoring more points. The car has been perfect, and I think the podium will be in our cards soon"
Plamen Kralev: "My goal today was to totaling how many laps as possible, and I'm sorry I couldn't make it. Unfortunately, I ended up spinning in the attempt to avoid the car of Arabadzhiev, and I stalled. It's a real shame and there's nothing I could do to get back into the race. I showed I can improve my performance lap by lap and, with no tests, racing is the only chance to build some experience."