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Sunday, 30 July 2006 |
It was a race against time for the Racing Engineering team and Adam Carroll to even make it to qualifying in Hockenheim today. Just over an hour from the start of the session, the team were forced to change an engine – a request which was made to manufacturer Mecachrome after free practice this morning when a misfire was reported.
But the target was reached and both cars went out on the half hour
showdown. It was the usual action packed GP2 qualifying with spins,
crashes and some very close battles for position. Unfortunately a
hydraulic failure on Carroll’s car meant he was often unable to change
gear and he finished in 12th with a 1:23:457. Javi Villa worked solidly
and starts tomorrow’s 40 lap feature race from 22nd , half a second
behind his team mate.
Hockenheim is a notoriously tough circuit on the tyres and brakes and
soaring temperatures didn’t make things any easier for the drivers or
indeed the mechanics who worked frantically to replace the engine.
Team Principal Alfonso de Orleans Borbon said “I’m
actually upset with how late we got the engine. The team all worked so
hard to install it but there was no time to look at the set-up and that
contributed to Adam’s problem with the gears. It’s very unfair on Adam
as he felt the car was good and I’m sure had he not been able to secure
pole, he would definitely have been in the top 3. But Mecachrome just
didn’t give us a chance.”
Adam Carroll: “The team did a great job and under the
circumstances I don’t think 12th is all that bad considering what we
went through– I never thought I’d say that! I was on a good lap right
up until the 2nd last corner which would have put me in the top five
certainly, but the gear got stuck and I couldn’t do anything about it.
But I’ll get a good start tomorrow and work my way through the traffic.”
Javi Villa: “There was a yellow flag so I came in and changed
tyres. The car went much better and faster on the second set.
Hockenheim is such a different circuit with the long straights and
there are some tricky corners to look out for which caught out several
drivers. Tomorrow I start near the back but I feel the car has improved
from the last round in France and as always, I will push and hope to
finish mid-field.”
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 06 January 2007 )
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