EU3000: Robert Doornbos Zandvoort Masters qualifying notes

The drive shaft betrays Dutch, official Marlboro driver, Robert Doornbos in Malboro Masters Zandvoort Event

2003 edition of the International Marlboro Masters, that takes place on the Dutch circuit of Zandvoort, welcomed an incredible list of drivers coming from 16 different countries all around the world to celebrate this annual event, one of the most important in motor racing.

Driver Robert Doornbos of Team Ghinzani suffered misfortune today, during qualifying, as all his hopes for a front-row qualification were vanished when he began to suffer troubles: first at his engine and then as his Dallara's drive-shaft broke during Robert clear lap, in session 2. In the morning free practice Robert was able to end the 30 minutes session in top position having set the 5th fastest time of his group, only 0.204 seconds slower than Pla (who was lying in the provisional pole on 47 drivers) with a very competitive car.

In the first session of qualifying Doornbos showed a brilliant performance by signing the 2nd fastest lap time of his group, but he began to have problems at his engine and was forced to enter the pit and come back to his box. Honda's engineer, after a check, decided to change it so Robert was forced to end his session in advance and qualified in a final 10th position of his group. Everybody in Team Ghinzani worked hard to give to Robert a perfect car in due time for the second session, as it happened.

In the first part of session 2, in fact, Robert was always lying in top 5 places and was pushing hard in order to end the session in a strong position. With the new set of tyres and while Robert was trying to get a fast lap time, the drive-shaft of his car broke and all his hopes to qualify in the best positions were vanished. "It is really amazing that happened all this to me today" -- declared Robert -- "In free practice I was 5th and my car was competitive, but in qualifying everything happened: first the engine that had to be substituted, and then also the drive-shaft that broke while I was driving my clear lap with the new set of tyres. It is really a pity, for the Marlboro too, but I know that racing is also this. For sure I'm not advantaged starting in such a position, but I'll do my best in order to overtake as much as I can and finish this 2003 edition of the Marlboro Masters in a good position".

Robert Doornbos Dallara-Mugen, car #19 - P16 (of his group) 1:34.365

POLE: N.A.Piquet 1:33.115 -- 2 C.Klien 1 :33.295 -- 3 R.Briscoe 1 :33.238 -- 4 N.Lapierre 1 :33.332

In 2002 Marlboro Masters edition, Robert qualified 6th but was then eliminated in the warm-up by fellow Dutchman Stefan de Groot who hit Robert from behind and vanished any hope for a podium finish.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Sunday:
09.30 -- 09.45 Warm-up
14.00 -- 15.00 RACE

-www.robertdoornbos.com