Italian shines in qualifying session
Luca Filippi lit up the Singapore circuit with his run to pole in this evening’s qualifying session in Singapore, claiming the top spot in the Series’ first ever night run in a red flag shortened session ahead of Max Chilton and Esteban Gutiérrez.
The Italian took the top spot with two minutes remaining with a time of 1:59.444, claiming pole by less than a tenth mere seconds before Nigel Melker hit the barriers underneath the main grandstand and brought the session to an early close.
With the track now dry thanks to the warm temperatures and the first F1 practice session, conditions were ideal for a scorching battle under the spotlights: the Lotus pair James Calado and Gutiérrez set the early running, along with Felipe Nasr, but when Series leader Davide Valsecchi took the top spot eight minutes in it looked as though he had taken another step towards the title.
However, with most of his competitors in for fresh tyres, Jolyon Palmer had other thoughts and stole provisional pole from the Italian, prompting a rethink up and down the pitlane. As the clock ticked down most of the field were improving, with Chilton, Filippi and Gutiérrez all jumping Valsecchi on the timesheets, and many more looking to move up with them.
Unfortunately for them, Melker’s crash came with so little time remaining that no one would have been able to run another lap, and the session was brought to an early end. Behind the top three Palmer, Fabio Leimer, Valsecchi, Johnny Cecotto, Stefano Coletti, Luiz Razia and Sergio Canamasas will instead have to channel that frustration into tomorrow’s feature race.
|
Driver
|
Team
|
Laptime
|
Laps
|
|
|
1.
|
Luca Filippi
|
Scuderia Coloni
|
1:59.444
|
10
|
|
2.
|
Max Chilton
|
Carlin
|
1:59.496
|
10
|
|
3.
|
Esteban Gutiérrez
|
Lotus GP
|
1:59.908
|
12
|
|
4.
|
Jolyon Palmer
|
iSport International
|
2:00.102
|
11
|
|
5.
|
Fabio Leimer
|
Racing Engineering
|
2:00.113
|
9
|
|
6.
|
Davide Valsecchi
|
DAMS
|
2:00.287
|
10
|
|
7.
|
Johnny Cecotto
|
Barwa Addax Team
|
2:00.335
|
11
|
|
8.
|
Stefano Coletti
|
Rapax
|
2:00.364
|
9
|
|
9.
|
Luiz Razia
|
Arden International
|
2:00.365
|
11
|
|
10.
|
Sergio Canamasas
|
Venezuela GP Lazarus
|
2:00.634
|
9
|
|
11.
|
Stéphane Richelmi
|
Trident Racing
|
2:00.671
|
10
|
|
12.
|
Nathanaël Berthon
|
Racing Engineering
|
2:00.695
|
9
|
|
13.
|
Felipe Nasr
|
DAMS
|
2:00.720
|
11
|
|
14.
|
Giedo van der Garde
|
Caterham Racing
|
2:00.906
|
10
|
|
15.
|
James Calado
|
Lotus GP
|
2:00.954
|
10
|
|
16.
|
Rio Haryanto
|
Carlin
|
2:01.031
|
10
|
|
17.
|
Marcus Ericsson
|
iSport International
|
2:01.204
|
10
|
|
18.
|
Nigel Melker
|
Ocean Racing Technology
|
2:01.308
|
10
|
|
19
|
Julian Leal
|
Trident Racing
|
2:01.474
|
9
|
|
20.
|
Fabio Onidi
|
Scuderia Coloni
|
2:01.656
|
6
|
|
21.
|
Simon Trummer
|
Arden International
|
2:01.961
|
10
|
|
22.
|
Victor Guerin
|
Ocean Racing Technology
|
2:02.110
|
10
|
|
23.
|
Rodolfo Gonzalez
|
Caterham Racing
|
2:02.260
|
10
|
|
24.
|
Rene Binder
|
Venezuela GP Lazarus
|
2:02.376
|
10
|
|
25.
|
Jake Rosenzweig
|
Barwa Addax Team
|
2:03.218
|
10
|
|
26.
|
Ricardo Teixeira
|
Rapax
|
2:04.174
|
11
|
source: GP2 Series
Barwa Addax
coming soon
source: addaxteam.com
Dams
coming soon
source: dams.fr
Racing Eng.
5th place for Fabio Leimer and Racing Engineering in qualifying at Singapore today.
The GP2 teams and drivers were greeted by rain at the start of the afternoon free practice although it gradually ceased during the session. Even though the track temperature was at 30°, the humidity was 88% meaning that it would take longer for the track to dry than is normal so, although a dry line to begin to appear by the end of the 30 minutes, wet tyres were needed throughout.
As this was the first race for GP2 cars on the Marina Bay street circuit, all the drivers took to the track as soon as the green light was shown in order to maximise the number of laps they could run. Conditions on track were difficult with a lot of standing water and leaves off the racing line on several corners. After eight minutes Nathanaël Berthon went quickest for Racing Engineering with a time of 2:21.717s but lap times were dropping quickly as the drivers got used to the circuit and the track conditions.
As the session reached the halfway point Fabio Leimer went 2nd fastest with a time of 2:17.294s with Berthon just over a second slower in 13th. Fabio continued to get faster and, with one minute remaining, he improved his time to 2:14.671s to stay in 2nd spot, one of only two drivers to get under the 2:15s mark. Nathanaël also went quicker and quicker to end the session in 13th with a lap of 2:16.461s.
The track was dry for the evening qualifying session with the GP2 drivers running under floodlights for the first time, the track temperature had fallen to 27° and the humidity to 77%.
Fabio was immediately on the pace, setting the second fastest time of 2:00.860s after 10 minutes with Nathanaël some two seconds slower and searching for a clean lap. Most of the cars pitted after 15 minutes to fit new tyres and make some final adjustments and with just 8 minutes remaining both Racing Engineering cars were back on track and looking to improve their times.
Fabio was fast once again and with just 3.5 minutes left on the clock he set a time of 2:00.113s for 2nd fastest but with 1.5 minutes left, just as the young Swiss was looking to go faster still, an accident to Melker saw the session red-flagged and the Racing Engineering driver had to settle for 5th on the grid. Nathanaël was similarly affected by the red flag just when he was looking to set his fastest lap and the young Frenchman was left in 12th place with a time of 2:00.695s.
Although both Racing Engineering drivers would have preferred to have started higher up the grid, they will be looking to gain positions in tomorrow’s Feature Race with Fabio aiming to finish in a podium position and Nathanaël wanting to score more points and get a good grid position for the Sunday Sprint Race.
TIMETABLE:
- Race 1: Sat 22 Sep 2012, 16:00 (GMT+8)
- Race 2: Sun 23 Sep 2012, 16:10 (GMT+8)
Thomas Couyotopoulo, Sporting Director of Racing Engineering:
“Today was even more exciting than expected because heavy rain started shortly before the free practice so no one had an opportunity to do a single lap in dry conditions before the qualifying session. All drivers and teams had to stay confident in their preparation and apply it to the dry qualifying session. Obviously, lap times have improved during the whole session as drivers have pushed the limits further each time. Fabio did a good job but unfortunately got blocked in the third sector of his fastest lap by Melker so we could have seen him higher up than the 5th place where he finished after the session has been red flagged. Nat struggled on the first part of the qualifying and was not feeling comfortable but he did the 12th fastest lap time on his second set of tyres. A faster lap was also possible but he did not the chance to push for an extra lap as the session got interrupted by the red flag.
Overall it is not a bad result and we can have both drivers scoring good points tomorrow. This track difficult and demanding so tomorrow’s race should be quite interesting and drivers will have to be very focused from light to flag to in order perform at their best between Singapore’s walls.”
Fabio Leimer:
“It was not easy on the track today as it was our first time here and it was wet in free practice. Therefore we went into qualification with no idea where the braking points are or what to do about the setup, so to begin with I was just learning the track and I was feeling very comfortable. We put the second set of tyres on and I knew I could go quicker and I was pushing immediately and I was on a quick lap when I was delayed by Melker, I’m sure I could have been third or better. However I am still happy although it’s not easy to overtake but the track is long and fast and I like it here.”
Nathanaël Berthon:
“Free practice was very good as the car went well although I wasn’t pushing hard. I am a bit disappointed with qualifying as I wasn’t happy with the setup of the car on the first set of tyres and I only had one lap on the second set as the red flag came out just as I was improving but P12 is not a disaster. The circuit is wonderful and it’s good to drive here, the track has a lot of grip, it’s a great experience.”
source: racing-engineering.com
iSport
coming soon
source: isportinternational.com
Lotus ART GP2 team
coming soon
source: art-grandprix.com
Caterham Racing
coming soon
source: caterham-racing.com
Scuderia Coloni
SINGAPORE: FILIPPI AND SCUDERIA COLONI STORM TO POLE IN NIGHT QUALIFYING
Scuderia Coloni and Luca Filippi keep producing magic together: the all-italian pair stormed the GP2 pack to take an amazing pole position in the Singapore night Qualifying session.
Luca and his supersoft-shod Dallara boasted a dominating performance and posted a 1’59”444 that was too quick for the rest of the field. Filippi beated 2nd placed Chilton by 0.05 and Gutierrez was the only other driver to get under the 2 minutes mark, even if half a second adrift from Luca’s pole time.
The others were further behind, with gaps that are very close to the 1” mark. Filippi’s pole is particularly important on a street track, where overtaking should prove particularly difficult.
Meanwhile, Fabio Onidi ended the session in 20th place with a 2’01”656. The Italian driver had closed the morning practice in P11, but considering that he has to serve a ten places penalty on tomorrow’s grid (following the Race 2 crash in Monza) the team decided to save one set of new tyres for the races, in order to boost Fabio’s recovery chances.
Paolo Coloni: “This pole position has a great meaning: on a track that is new to all the teams everybody had to start from a clean sheet, and the ability in finding the right set-up straight out of the box became crucial. This was even more true after that rain washed the morning session, giving us no track time on the dry. All the work we did at home with our engineers and the simulator proved right, and Luca did an amazing job making the most of the car.
Fabio could have started in the top ten, but considering that he has that big ten place penalty we decided for a conservative strategy, saving one set of tyres for the race. We’re confident that he will have the pace to recover”.
source: scuderiacoloni.com
Trident Racing
coming soon
source: tridentracing.it
Venezuela GP Lazarus
coming soon
source: teamlazarus.it
Rapax
coming soon
source: rapaxteam.com
Arden
Arden International, GP2 Series 2012 – Singapore Qualifying
Razia lines up ninth ahead of GP2 finale
The GP2 Series made its first appearance on the Marina Bay street circuit, Singapore, this evening and drivers had to cope with mixed conditions as the track morphed from exceptionally wet, during free practice, to completely dry.
Arden driver Luiz Razia must overturn a 25-point deficit to wrest the 2012 title from season-long rival Davide Valsecchi and the pair line up ninth and sixth respectively for tomorrow’s feature race. Razia needs to finish several positions ahead of Valsecchi to prevent the Italian clinching the crown before Sunday’s seasonal finale.
Razia’s team-mate Simon Trummer qualified 21st in a session that was cut slightly short, because Ocean driver Nigel Melker slid into the Turn 18 barriers and blocked the track.
Luiz Razia comments:
“There was a huge amount of standing water during free practice, so conditions were pretty tricky, but it was at least a useful opportunity to learn a track that’s new for most of the GP2 guys. The car felt good and I was confident that I could earn a strong grid position, but I was unable to put in a quick qualifying lap because of the red flag at the end. I know other drivers were affected, too, but it definitely cost me a few places on the grid and that could obviously have an effect on my title hopes. I know what I have to do, though, and won’t give up the fight.”
Simon Trummer comments:
“This is an interesting weekend on many levels. A couple of drivers have raced previously at Marina Bay, in junior categories, but it’s a new venue for most of us and it wasn’t easy to learn when track conditions were so wet. Driving under floodlights is a new experience, too, although I only had to adjust to that for qualifying and it should be lighter for both races. The car didn’t feel too bad, but I struggled a little with traffic and was still trying to find a gap when the session was stopped. I don’t think it will be particularly easy to overtake and it’s going to be tough in the oppressive heat, especially as there’s so little margin for error. I’ll do my best, though, as always.”
source: arden-motorsport.com
Ocean Racing
coming soon
source: oceanracingtech.com
Carlin
coming soon
source: carlin.co.uk
Pirelli
coming soon
source: pirelli.com