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Austrian
Walter Grubmüller and Briton Max Chilton were unable to make the most of
their tyres on the abrasive Thruxton circuit in qualifying for tomorrow’s
two British Formula 3 International Series races. The Hitech Racing pair
headed to the Hampshire track in a confident mood after a positive test
last week and left disappointed not to be able to repeat the performance
that saw them first and sixth.
On
a track renowned for its abrasive surface, the Buckingham-based reigning
championship-winning team elected for a more conservative set-up in an
attempt to prevent the problems of poor tyre wear at last year’s
race. However, in the two 30
minute sessions, 19 year-old Grubmüller and 17 year-old Chilton were
unable to get the best out of the tyres and were left down in the
midfield.
Despite
the lowly grid positions, Max who has twice taken a podium finish, and
Walter who has regularly shown a rapid race pace are confident of taking
two top ten finishes in the races which take place at 11:45
and 15:40
on Sunday.
“It’s
very disappointing to be so far down the grid after being so quick in
testing last week, said Walter.
“I’m not too sure why, we simply weren’t quick enough, which after
being consistently quick in testing is very frustrating. Hopefully though
we can get a good start in both races tomorrow and make up some
places. From where we are
it’s possible to get a couple of top ten finishes, so that will be the
aim.”
“It
seems to be similar to Snetterton in that we were awesome in practice. I
know it was over a month ago and it was wet, but usually if you’re quick
in the wet you’re normally quick in the dry,” said Max. “I don’t know
what’s happened here today. Round Thruxton there are really only two
corners; the last corner feels fine it’s just the Complex that’s the
problem in that I seem to have a lot of oversteer but apart from that it’s
not bad.
“The
team has found something in the data where I need to brake later and
harder and that cost me some time. Looking ahead to the races tomorrow, I
know we’re a long way back but it’s quite easy to overtake here as you can
get a good slipstream, so I’ll be looking for some good strong top ten
finishes.”
“We
went conservative on the set-up because of the tyres,” said Team Principal
David Hayle. “We went way too
conservative because after the first session the tyres were like new as
though we’d done ten laps of Snetterton rather than ten laps of Thruxton.
They still had the moulding lines on them. So we went the other way to be
more on the edge for the second session and found six tenths but that
obviously wasn’t enough.”
Qualifying
for Round 11
1.
Jaime Alguersuari Carlin Motorsport Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA
1:06.821
2. Brendon Hartley Carlin Motorsport Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA
1:06.846
3. Oliver Turvey Carlin Motorsport Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA
1:06.858
4. Marcus Ericsson Fortec Motorsport Dallara F308 Mercedes
1:06.933
5. John Martin Raikkonen Robertson Racing Dallara F308
Mercedes HWA 1:07.086
6. Sergio Perez T-Sport Dallara F308 Mugen Honda
1:07.136
13. Walter Grubmüller
Hitech Racing Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA 1:07.868
14. Max Chilton Hitech
Racing Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA 1:07.914
Qualifying for Round
12
1. Brendon Hartley Carlin Motorsport Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA
1:06.695
2. Oliver Turvey Carlin Motorsport Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA
1:06.730
3. Marcus Ericsson Fortec Motorsport Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA
1:06.741
4. Nick Tandy JTR Marshall Westland Mygale M-08F3 Mercedes HWA
1:06.825
5. Atte Mustonen Raikkonen Robertson Racing Dallara F308
Mercedes HWA 1:06.838
6. Sergio Perez T-Sport Dallara F308 Mugen Honda
1:06.848
13. Max Chilton Hitech
Racing Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA 1:07.370
15. Walter Grubmüller Hitech
Racing Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA 1:07.553
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