SNORAS SPYKER SQUADRON 1000 KM OF THE ALGARVE QUALIFYING REPORT
SNORAS Spyker Squadron will start round three of the five-race Le Mans
Series schedule this weekend from the back of the grid. After an engine
failure in the third free practice session, the team did not have enough
time to re-fit an engine in time for the 20 minute qualifying session for
the 1000 km of the Algarve race that starts tomorrow at 19h15 (GMT).
Both yesterday and today the team spend a lot of time on the track. Both
Squadron drivers, Czech Jarek Janis and Dutchman Tom Coronel, went out in
the first session, a one hour session at the hottest time of the day, on
a reconnaissance mission. Both drivers returned to the box into ecstasy
and thoroughly enjoyed the demanding Portuguese track with its blind
turns and limited opportunities to relax. To be quick on the track the
drivers need to learn a number of tricks or you would be 1.5-2 seconds
behind. Towards the end of the session the team discovered a problem with
the gearbox and decided to change the gearbox.
Yesterday's second free practice session, a two hour evening
session in partly dark and cooler conditions, was fully used by the
drivers to further work on their race setup. Their pace was good and the
team eventually set the seventh quickest time without simulating a
qualifying run on a fresh set of tires.
In a third free practice session this afternoon, Jarek went out and
immediately produced good lap times. Tom went in the car next but he had
to return to the pit box shortly after with an engine failure. As the
team was not able to be ready in time for qualifying, the organisers of
the race gave the team permission to start the 1000 km race from the back
of the grid tomorrow. Tom Coronel set the quickest time of both drivers
and therefore he will start the race tomorrow for the the team. The race
will start at 19h15 (GMT) and it will take the checkered flag no later
than 01:15 on Sunday. Eurosport will broadcast three hours of the race
live on one of their pan-European sports TV channels.
-credit: spyker
