Barcelona Testing Day 2 of 2 - 16/03/11 - Vergne before the rain
Like the day before, the testing in Formula Renault 3.5 Series at Barcelona was disrupted by rain. The track dried out in the middle of the day, and the drivers who were fastest during that spell ended up at the top of the timesheets. Jean-Eric Vergne (Carlin) showed the quickest turn of pace, ahead of Daniel Zampieri (BVM Target) and Daniel Ricciardo (ISR).
The combined standings for the day showed Jean-Eric Vergne finish first, ahead of Daniel Zampieri, Daniel Ricciardo, Nathanaël Berthon, Brendon Hartley (Gravity - Charouz Racing) and Kevin Korjus (Tech 1 Racing).
After a first day disrupted by rain, drivers and teams present at the Catalunya Circuit waited for the track to dry out before continuing their preparation program. The first two hours of driving was under wet track conditions and several drivers were caught out, including Cesar Ramos (Fortec Motorsport), the victim of a detached left rear wheel, and Arthur Pic (Tech 1 Racing), who suffered a twisted right front suspension stay.
With the track drying out, the drivers were able to don slick tires and set about bringing down the lap times. Fairuz Fauzy, reserve driver with Lotus Renault GP and back in FR 3.5 Series with Mofaz Racing, lapped in 1'52''996, kicking off the race for the best time. Robert Wickens (Carlin) went below 1'50'', before Daniel Ricciardo stepped up to take the lead. With times of 1'46''687 then 1'42''853, Toro Rosso F1 team’s third driver took full advantage of the improved grip conditions. As we approached the end of the session, he banged in a 1'38''825, setting the fastest time of the morning.
In the early part of the afternoon, the track continued to dry out. Nathanaël Berthon (ISR) took the opportunity to bring the reference time down a notch or two (to 1'36''643 then 1'36''406). Daniel Zampieri took a turn (1'35''991) before handing over to Oliver Webb (Pons Racing), in 1'35''721. In the end it was Jean-Eric Vergne who went fastest in 1'34''409, before the rain returned to dissuade the drivers from coming back out on track.
The drivers from Formula Renault 3.5 Series will be back on track next week at the Circuit Paul Ricard Le Castellet, for two more days of testing.
Quote-Unquote:
Jean-Eric Vergne: "I have very good feelings at the wheel of this car. Yesterday, we were unable to get everything together to do a fast time but today we had new tyres at the right time and it worked. We are already competitive and that makes me want to fight for the title even more."
Daniel Ricciardo: "I am satisfied with today because we showed that we were quick on the dry and in the rain. However, it is very difficult to draw conclusions about standings because of all the changes in track conditions. With my engineer, we’re getting along really well and now we want to set the car up to win."
Brendon Hartley: "We were on the pace, right from early on. I feel very good about this car. Within the team, everyone’s working with a lot of enthusiasm. We want victory, even if many of the other drivers are also here to win. I think the line-up has never been as impressive and I am very pleased to be part of it."
|
Pos
|
 Driver |
Team |
Best Time |
Gap |
Session 1 |
Session 2 |
|
1
|
Jean Eric VERGNE | CARLIN | 1:34.409 | - | 1:56.802 | 1:56.346 |
|
2
|
Daniel ZAMPIERI | BVM TARGET | 1:34.894 | +0.485 | 1:59.308 | 1:59.221 |
|
3
|
Daniel RICCIARDO | ISR | 1:35.156 | +0.747 | 1:54.303 | 1:55.405 |
|
4
|
Nathanael BERTHON | ISR | 1:35.171 | +0.762 | 2:02.654 | 1:57.232 |
|
5
|
Brendon HARTLEY | GRAVITY - CHAROUZ RACING | 1:35.369 | +0.960 | 1:55.499 | 1:56.492 |
|
6
|
Kevin KORJUS | TECH 1 RACING | 1:35.651 | +1.242 | 2:02.497 | 1:57.637 |
|
7
|
Jan CHAROUZ | GRAVITY - CHAROUZ RACING | 1:35.670 | +1.261 | 1:55.663 | 1:57.580 |
|
8
|
Sergio CANAMASAS | BVM TARGET | 1:35.677 | +1.268 | 2:02.467 | 1:59.547 |
|
9
|
Daniel MCKENZIE | COMTEC RACING | 1:35.686 | +1.277 | 1:57.516 | 1:58.820 |
|
10
|
Oliver WEBB | PONS RACING | 1:35.721 | +1.312 | 1:57.539 | 1:56.998 |
|
11
|
Miki MONRAS | PONS RACING | 1:35.853 | +1.444 | 1:55.958 | 1:56.815 |
|
12
|
Arthur PIC | TECH 1 RACING | 1:35.923 | +1.514 | 1:56.137 | 1:56.360 |
|
13
|
Robert WICKENS | CARLIN | 1:36.011 | +1.602 | 1:55.887 | 1:55.321 |
|
14
|
Cesar RAMOS | FORTEC MOTORSPORT | 1:36.149 | +1.740 | 1:56.730 | 1:56.015 |
|
15
|
Alexander ROSSI | FORTEC MOTORSPORT | 1:36.210 | +1.801 | 1:56.545 | 1:55.801 |
|
16
|
Nelson PANCIATICI | KMP RACING | 1:36.219 | +1.810 | 1:57.368 | 1:58.218 |
|
17
|
Daniel DE JONG | COMTEC RACING | 1:36.236 | +1.827 | 1:57.084 | 1:58.113 |
|
18
|
Daniil MOVE | P1 MOTORSPORT | 1:36.400 | +1.991 | 1:56.034 | 1:59.048 |
|
19
|
Walter GRUBMULLER | P1 MOTORSPORT | 1:36.406 | +1.997 | 1:56.026 | 1:57.479 |
|
20
|
Albert COSTA | EPSILON-EUSKADI | 1:36.414 | +2.005 | 1:55.512 | 1:56.026 |
|
21
|
Stephane RICHELMI | INTERNATIONAL DRACO RACING | 1:36.948 | +2.539 | 1:58.624 | 1:57.816 |
|
22
|
Andre NEGRAO | INTERNATIONAL DRACO RACING | 1:37.267 | +2.858 | 1:57.803 | 1:57.330 |
|
23
|
Emmanuel PIGET | EPSILON-EUSKADI | 1:40.890 | +6.481 | ||
|
24
|
Fairuz FAUZY | MOFAZ RACING | 1:41.946 | +7.537 | ||
|
25
|
Jake ROSENZWEIG | MOFAZ RACING | 1:49.013 | +14.604 | 1:56.073 | 1:57.151 |
|
26
|
Anton NEBYLITSKIY | KMP RACING | 1:52.032 | +17.623 | 1:57.216 | 1:59.272 |
Barcelona Testing Day 1 of 2 - 15/03/11 - Rain in Spain does well for Ricciardo again
Following on from Motorland Aragon, the drivers from Formula Renault 3.5 Series met up in Barcelona for the first of two days of collective testing scheduled at the Catalunya circuit. Weather conditions proved difficult today, with a track that was almost undriveable at times. Like at Motorland Aragon, Daniel Ricciardo (ISR) finished the day at the top of the timesheets, ahead of Robert Wickens (Carlin) and Brendon Hartley (Gravity - Charouz).
For this second session of collective testing, the Formula Renault 3.5 Series driver line-up had changed slightly. On home turf, the Catalan driver Miki Monras joined the Pons Racing team, while Sergio Canamasas - after driving with Pons Racing and Epsilon Euskadi at Motorland Aragon - this time teamed with BVM Target, along with Daniel Zampieri, who hadn’t been able to take part in the first collective test of the season through illness.
The rain was expected and sure enough disrupted the early part of the day’s testing. In difficult conditions and after a long wait, Andre Negrao (International Draco Racing) was the first driver to record a significant lap time. Jan Charouz (Gravity - Charouz Racing) came into action next and took his turn at the top of the timing sheets in 1'55''663. After over 80 minutes of the session, Daniel Ricciardo took over top spot in 1'55''633. The FR 3.5 Series runner-up continued with fast laps, clocking up a 1'54''613 then 1'54''303. Subsequently, violent downpours prevented drivers taking to the track during the second half of the morning session and the race director brought out the red flag after Brendon Hartley span, just after taking second place.
Conditions were still damp in the afternoon and the first hour saw multiple red flag incidents. Robert Wickens went quickest with only his second lap, clocking 1'55''321, before going into the pits where he was to stay for the rest of the afternoon. With the track still wet, no one was able to beat the time set by Daniel Ricciardo in the morning, the ISR driver ending the day ahead of Robert Wickens, Brendon Hartley, Albert Costa (Epsilon Euskadi), Jan Charouz and Alexander Rossi (Fortec Motorsport). Testing will continue tomorrow.
Quote-Unquote:
Alexander Rossi: "I’m getting to know the team and we're already in a good rhythm. I am very pleased with the progress made throughout the day. To finish third in the afternoon session was good. We’re excited at the idea of fighting for the title."
Andre Negrao: "I am gradually acclimatizing to the International Draco Racing team. It is only our third day of practice together. I am sure it will work out and that we'll find the settings it takes for the car to be perfect. But I still have much to learn. Today was particularly difficult."
Oliver Webb: "In terms of downforce, the Formula Renault 3.5 is not really different from the cars I've driven so far, but I find the cornering speed and the effectiveness of the carbon brakes on this car exceptional. I need to concentrate now in order to learn to manage these parameters, but I'm confident.”
|
Pos
|
Driver |
Team |
Best time |
Gap |
Session 1 |
Session 2 |
|
1
|
Daniel RICCIARDO | ISR | 1:54.303 | 1:54.303 | 1:55.405 | |
|
2
|
Robert WICKENS | CARLIN | 1:55.321 | +1.018 | 1:55.887 | 1:55.321 |
|
3
|
Brendon HARTLEY | GRAVITY - CHAROUZ RACING | 1:55.499 | +1.196 | 1:55.499 | 1:56.492 |
|
4
|
Albert COSTA | EPSILON-EUSKADI | 1:55.512 | +1.209 | 1:55.512 | 1:56.026 |
|
5
|
Jan CHAROUZ | GRAVITY - CHAROUZ RACING | 1:55.663 | +1.360 | 1:55.663 | 1:57.580 |
|
6
|
Alexander ROSSI | FORTEC MOTORSPORT | 1:55.801 | +1.498 | 1:56.545 | 1:55.801 |
|
7
|
Miki MONRAS | PONS RACING | 1:55.958 | +1.655 | 1:55.958 | 1:56.815 |
|
8
|
Cesar RAMOS | FORTEC MOTORSPORT | 1:56.015 | +1.712 | 1:56.730 | 1:56.015 |
|
9
|
Walter GRUBMULLER | P1 MOTORSPORT | 1:56.026 | +1.723 | 1:56.026 | 1:57.479 |
|
10
|
Daniil MOVE | P1 MOTORSPORT | 1:56.034 | +1.731 | 1:56.034 | 1:59.048 |
|
11
|
Jake ROSENZWEIG | MOFAZ RACING | 1:56.073 | +1.770 | 1:56.073 | 1:57.151 |
|
12
|
Arthur PIC | TECH 1 RACING | 1:56.137 | +1.834 | 1:56.137 | 1:56.360 |
|
13
|
Jean Eric VERGNE | CARLIN | 1:56.346 | +2.043 | 1:56.802 | 1:56.346 |
|
14
|
Oliver WEBB | PONS RACING | 1:56.998 | +2.695 | 1:57.539 | 1:56.998 |
|
15
|
Andre NEGRAO | INTERNATIONAL DRACO RACING | 1:57.003 | +2.700 | 1:57.803 | 1:57.003 |
|
16
|
Daniel DE JONG | COMTEC RACING | 1:57.084 | +2.781 | 1:57.084 | 1:58.113 |
|
17
|
Anton NEBYLITSKIY | KMP RACING | 1:57.216 | +2.913 | 1:57.216 | 1:59.272 |
|
18
|
Nathanael BERTHON | ISR | 1:57.232 | +2.929 | 2:02.654 | 1:57.232 |
|
19
|
Nelson PANCIATICI | KMP RACING | 1:57.368 | +3.065 | 1:57.368 | 1:58.218 |
|
20
|
Daniel MCKENZIE | COMTEC RACING | 1:57.516 | +3.213 | 1:57.516 | 1:58.820 |
|
21
|
Kevin KORJUS | TECH 1 RACING | 1:57.637 | +3.334 | 2:02.497 | 1:57.637 |
|
22
|
Stephane RICHELMI | INTERNATIONAL DRACO RACING | 1:57.816 | +3.513 | 1:58.624 | 1:57.816 |
|
23
|
Daniel ZAMPIERI | BVM TARGET | 1:59.221 | +4.918 | 1:59.308 | 1:59.221 |
|
24
|
Sergio CANAMASAS | BVM TARGET | 1:59.547 | +5.244 | 2:02.467 | 1:59.547 |
Razia and Valsecchi in 2011 Team Lotus F1 Driver Line-Up
Team Lotus has today confirmed that Luiz Razia and Davide Valsecchi will be combining their 2011 GP2 Team AirAsia commitments with official roles in Team Lotus with Luiz Razia as Third Driver and Davide Valsecchi as Test Driver. Luiz and Davide will be taking part in a number of Friday practice sessions at selected 2011 Grands Prix and Team Lotus is also working on a number of other exciting driver-related projects which will be announced in due course.
Riad Asmat, Team Lotus Chief Executive Officer: “We are very pleased to have confirmed that Luiz and Davide will all be extending their relationships with the Team Lotus family by filling the roles of Third and Test Drivers respectively for the 2011 season. Luiz and Davide’s efforts have helped Team AirAsia enjoy a very strong start to its debut season and their roles with Team Lotus will give them invaluable experience of the highest level of global motorsport which will help their natural talents develop in the right direction. We are very excited about seeing Luiz and Davide continue to grow with us throughout 2011 and beyond and the whole team is looking forward to working with them.”
Luiz Razia: “I am absolutely delighted to have confirmed my role as Third Driver for Team Lotus. Both Team Lotus and Team AirAsia have very exciting futures ahead and now I also have an excellent chance to build on my F1 experience. I’ve been able to bring that experience to the GP2 championship already and I’m sure that with the calibre of people involved in both Team AirAsia and Team Lotus we will achieve success very soon and be challenging for points, podiums and race wins whenever possible.”
Davide Valsecchi: “I am so happy to be part of both Team Lotus and Team AirAsia this season. They are both fantastic teams with a great amount of experience and I will learn a huge amount, on and off track. I’m excited about the Friday practice sessions ahead and I’ll do my best to help Team Lotus keep moving forward and absorb as much as I can from the F1 team.”
Julian Leal joins Rapax in 2011 GP2 Series
The Rapax team is proud to announce the deal reached with Julian Leal, who'll continue partnering Fabio Leimer for the upcoming GP2 Series.
The 20-year-old Colombian race made his debut with Rapax in the Asia Series championship, aboard the new GP2 racecar fitted with Pirelli tires. Despite the initial adaptation issues of such a tough category like GP2, he proved really consistent at his first run, and both parties were extremely positive about how the relationship started.
The agreement reached to continue through the 2011 GP2 Series has been an obvious step forward from that. Leal will be lined-up with Leimer, a 21-year-old Swiss racer who previously joined the team for a full season. The Leal-Leimer combination is one of the youngest in GP2, confirming the attention of Rapax towards the best young drivers in racing.
Julian Leal
"Before entering the GP2 Asia Series, I hadn't decided to continue in the championship and enter the GP2 Main Series. The first contact with the team proved key in my decision, as I fell in love with the car at the first testing occasion we had last November. I found out that it's a complete and valuable race car that provides a great stepping stone for F1. I experienced a great relationship with the Rapax team since the first moment. I'm sure that the team's technical staff and personnel will be able to help me grow up and achieve some valuable results. At Abu Dhabi I also established a great connection with my team-mate Fabio Leimer, and I feel that we will have chances to do great things together. I know that this will be a really demanding season, but I'm ready to focus 100% to take full advantage of this opportunity, for which I want to thank my father and family, my sponsors and my management".
Andrea Bergamini, Managing Director
“We're extremely happy to continue in the collaboration we started with Julian for in the GP2 Main Series too. His approach to the first round of the season at Abu Dhabi proved extremely professional, despite some unfortunate coincidences preventing him from scoring some well-deserved top-notch results. We're proud to contribute to his growth, and at the same time we're extremely pleased to have two young and talented drivers with us. They're a further proof of our commitment in supporting young and talented racers aiming to reach the top in motorsports".
Motorland Aragon Testing Day 2 of 2 - 09/03/11 - Daniel Ricciardo mixes it up with the records
Daniel Ricciardo (ISR) upped the pace here today at the Motorland Aragón circuit by bettering the Formula Renault 3.5 Series track record twice in succession. By proving he was the fastest over these two days of collective testing, the Australian has sent out a clear message to the competition. With sixteen drivers all placed within the space of a single second today, it seems to go without saying that things will be fought out tooth-and-nail this season!
There were two changes to the list of entrants for the second day of Formula Renault 3.5 Series collective testing at the Motorland Aragón circuit. Today, Sergio Canamasas took his place behind the wheel of one of the Epsilon Euskadi cars. At BVM Target, with Daniel Zampieri, who has been taken ill, still absent, the Angolan driver Ricardo Teixeira took the place of Davide Rigon in the Italian team's other car. Brendon Hartley (Gravity – Charouz) and Albert Costa (Epsilon Euskadi) went out hardest at the start of the session, holding the top spots between them for most of the early running. It was then the turn of Nathanaël Berthon (ISR), penalized as a result of a brake problem yesterday, to move to the top of the time sheet, followed by Stéphane Richelmi (International Draco Racing), who made his presence felt with a lap in 1’43’’580. But, before the first hour of the session was even up, Daniel Ricciardo had already gained the upper hand over his rivals with a lap in 1’43’’023. Only today the drivers seemed determined not to let Daniel Ricciardo lay down the law. Alexander Rossi (Fortec Motorsport) was the first to knock the Australian off top spot, with a lap in 1’43’’008 and Brendon Hartley moved into second as a result. The New Zealander then capitalized on his momentum to set the fastest time. With a lap completed in 1’42’’929, he improved on the time set yesterday by Daniel Ricciardo. But the Australian was quick to hit back. With laps in 1’42’’860, 1’42’’401, 1’42’’237… the number three Red Bull Racing F1 Team driver put together a series of very quick laps, beating the Motorland Aragón Formula Renault 3.5 Series track record twice in the process! This left him fastest at the end of the morning session ahead of Alexander Rossi and Albert Costa. The last session was a more considered affair, before it came to the final rush. Several teams opted to conduct a race simulation before switching onto a last set of fresh tyres and then heading off for the forthcoming Formula Renault 3.5 Series collective tests in Barcelona. Jan Charouz (Gravity – Charouz Racing) was fastest for most of the afternoon before Daniel Ricciardo had his say in proceedings. Though he was not as quick as he had been in the morning, the ISR driver once again ended the session in top spot, with a lap in 1’42’’311. César Ramos and Robert Wickens were the other two drivers to make up the top three. Formula Renault 3.5 will be back for more collective testing as of next Tuesday in Barcelona. Quote, unquote: Daniel Ricciardo: "Yesterday, it was my first day working with the ISR team, so we had a few things to sort out. Everything went quite well for us today. I like the way ISR works a lot. They don't send me out on track just to get some laps in, but every time we analyse a whole host of settings very closely. This year I really want to win the title! It is the only thing on my mind and we are going to do everything we can to make it come true." Cesar Ramos: "I did two days of tests in Formula Renault 3.5 Series at the end of 2010, at this very same circuit, but that was the last time that I drove this car. We are satisfied with the level of performance, especially as the field is unbelievably competitive. We have been working well together with Alexander Rossi, and we are both quick, which is a good sign for the future. We will do a race simulation in Barcelona, which is something I'm really looking forward to, as it should be an interesting experience." Kevin Korjus: “At the moment, I’m still finding my bearings. We followed our running schedule and I am feeling more and more comfortable with the car. I started to do a race simulation this afternoon, but unfortunately I had a clutch problem. I need to make progress in the use of fresh tyres, but, overall, I am satisfied with my times and pleased to finish in the top 10."
Morning session:
Pos Driver Team Time Gap Laps
1. Daniel Ricciardo ISR 1m42.237s 25
2. Alexander Rossi Fortec 1m42.401s + 0.164s 39
3. Albert Costa Epsilon Euskadi 1m42.558s + 0.321s 34
4. Cesar Ramos Fortec 1m42.575s + 0.338s 35
5. Nelson Panciatici KMP 1m42.624s + 0.387s 39
6. Daniil Move P1 1m42.678s + 0.441s 42
7. Robert Wickens Carlin 1m42.754s + 0.517s 28
8. Kevin Korjus Tech 1 1m42.926s + 0.689s 34
9. Brendon Hartley Gravity-Charouz 1m42.929s + 0.692s 38
10. Nathanael Berthon ISR 1m42.964s + 0.727s 21
11. Oliver Webb Pons 1m42.986s + 0.749s 34
12. Jean Eric Vergne Carlin 1m43.040s + 0.803s 34
13. Daniel Mckenzie Comtec 1m43.058s + 0.821s 39
14. Arthur Pic Tech 1 1m43.074s + 0.837s 29
15. Stephane Richelmi Draco 1m43.092s + 0.855s 56
16. Walter Grubmuller P1 1m43.225s + 0.988s 29
17. Jake Rosenzweig Mofaz 1m43.422s + 1.185s 31
18. Jan Charouz Gravity-Charouz 1m43.501s + 1.264s 25
19. Andre Negrao Draco 1m43.591s + 1.354s 36
20. Daniel de Jong Comtec 1m43.634s + 1.397s 31
21. Sergio Canamasas Epsilon Euskadi 1m43.637s + 1.400s 40
22. Anton Nebylitskiy KMP 1m43.647s + 1.410s 16
23. Ricardo Teixeira BVM Target 1m45.552s + 3.315s 42
Afternoon session:
Pos Driver Team Time Gap Laps
1. Daniel Ricciardo ISR 1m42.311s 32
2. Cesar Ramos Fortec 1m42.741s + 0.430s 16
3. Robert Wickens Carlin 1m42.783s + 0.472s 32
4. Brendon Hartley Gravity-Charouz 1m42.793s + 0.482s 34
5. Jean Eric Vergne Carlin 1m42.838s + 0.527s 33
6. Nelson Panciatici KMP 1m42.930s + 0.619s 20
7. Albert Costa Epsilon Euskadi 1m42.932s + 0.621s 34
8. Nathanael Berthon ISR 1m42.944s + 0.633s 31
9. Kevin Korjus Tech 1 1m42.951s + 0.640s 37
10. Arthur Pic Tech 1 1m43.052s + 0.741s 47
11. Daniil Move P1 1m43.110s + 0.799s 20
12. Oliver Webb Pons 1m43.124s + 0.813s 42
13. Andre Negrao Draco 1m43.342s + 1.031s 38
14. Daniel Mckenzie Comtec 1m43.344s + 1.033s 29
15. Stephane Richelmi Draco 1m43.392s + 1.081s 34
16. Jake Rosenzweig Mofaz 1m43.469s + 1.158s 30
17. Jan Charouz Gravity-Charouz 1m43.493s + 1.182s 34
18. Anton Nebylitskiy KMP 1m43.564s + 1.253s 32
19. Walter Grubmuller P1 1m43.841s + 1.530s 16
20. Daniel de Jong Comtec 1m43.852s + 1.541s 21
21. Sergio Canamasas Epsilon Euskadi 1m43.969s + 1.658s 33
22. Ricardo Teixeira BVM Target 1m44.177s + 1.866s 43
23. Alexander Rossi Fortec 1m44.576s + 2.265s 38
