Paul Ricard test day two summary

Robert Kubica joins the World Series by Renault and tops test in Paul Ricard

*The Epsilon Euskadi driver Robert Kubica (1.16.795) has set the quickest lap time of a WS car in the Circuit Paul Ricard HTTT.*

The World Series by Renault 2005 Teams did spend another worthy day of work in the Circuit Paul Ricard HTTT. Tomorrow they will transfer to the Circuit of Catalunya, in Barcelona, where they will test for two days (23-24 February).

In the second day, with the improved track conditions, the expertise drivers were soon in decent lap times. Simon Pagenaud was very fast in the morning session, followed by Robert Kubica (Epsilon Euskadi) and Marko Winkelhok (Draco Multiracing USA) packed in a few tenths of a second.

But the fastest lap time ever was to be set by the Polish Robert Kubica, improving the best time of a 2004 WS car by 3 tenths of a second. "The test has been very interesting for me. After 20 laps yesterday I have spent the day testing different solutions in the car. The World Series by Renault is going to be a very tough championship because the best teams of the WS and the FRV6 are in it, and the level will be very high."

Pagenaud and Salignon, both in a Saulnier Racing car, finished second and third of the day, but there were not able to beat Alx Danielsson's (Dams) best register the day before. 2004 FRV6 winner Giorgo Mondini (Eurointernational) achieved the sixth fastest time, behind Andy Zuber (Carlin Motorsport).

The former DTM driver Marko Winkelhok (Draco Multiracig USA), trying to get used to single-seater competitions again, was 4^th overall in today's test: "This is really different from DTM. I'm learning the car and the circuit. I don't know Barcelona at all. The Team is fantastic and they are helping me a lot. I think it will be a very interesting Season for me."

In the morning Pastor Maldonado (DAMS) had a big crash in the second corner when he was in new tyres. The French team did a hard work repairing the car and the RDD driver was able to complete five some laps.

Italians Alex Ciompi and Raffaele Gianmaria, testing for Avelon and GD Racing respectively, were the only drivers that did not used new tyres as both cars suffered engine problems.

<pre> World Series by Renault- Circuit Paul Ricard HTTT Day Two 20 February 2005 Best Timed Laps

    DRIVER                      TEAM                    BEST LAP        LAPS
1.  Robert Kubica (POL)         Epsilon Euskadi         1.16.795        88
2.  Simon Pagenaud (FRA)        Saulnier Racing         1.17.125        54
3.  Eric Salignon (FRA)         Saulnier Racing         1.17.283        33
4.  Marko Wilnhelhok (AST)      Draco Multiracing USA   1.17.371        48
5.  Alex Zuber (AST)            Carlin Motorsport       1.17.788        104
6.  Giorgio Mondini (ITA)       Eurointernational       1.17.865        99
7.  Patrick Pilet (FRA)         Jenzer Motorsport       1.18.222        49
8.  Stefano Proetto (ITA)       Interwetten             1.18.257        97
9.  Robert Antinucci (USA)      RC Motorsport           1.18.472        96
10. Ernesto Viso (VEN)          Cram Competicion        1.18.669        90
11. Pastor Maldonado (VEN)      DAMS                    1.18.696        36
12. Raffaele Gianmaria (ITA)    GD Racing               1.19.012        92
13. Alex Ciompi (ITA)           Avelon Racing           1.19.461        61
14. Colin Fleming (USA)         Jenzer Motorsport       1.19.820        25

Collective Test Day One (19/02/2005) Best Timed Laps

    DRIVER                      TEAM                    BEST LAP        LAPS
1.  Alx Danielsson (SUE)        DAMS                    1.17.090        691
2.  Will Power (AUS)            Carlin Motorsport       1.17.127        103
3.  Simon Pagenaud (FRA)        Saulnier Racing         1.17.680        98
4.  Eric Salignon (FRA)         Saulnier Racing         1.17.943        56
5.  Marko Wilnhelhok (AST)      Draco Multiracing USA   1.18.099        66
6.  Robert Kubica (POL)         Epsilon Euskadi         1.18.111        12
7.  Patrick Pilet (FRA)         Jenzer Motorsport       1.18.249        38
8.  Damien Pasini(FRA)          Cram Competition        1.18.373        89
10. Félix Porteiro (ESP)        Epsilon Euskadi         1.18.426        58
11. Matteo Meneghello (ITA)     Eurointernational       1.18.510        97
12. Jaap van Laagen (NED)       KTR                     1.18.517        72
13. Colin Fleming (USA)         Jenzer Motorsport       1.18.911        65
14. Giovanni Tedeschi (ITA)     RC Motorsport           1.19.159        98
15. Tomas Kostka (CZ)           GD Racing               1.19.343        111
16. Stefano Proetto (ITA)       Interwetten             1.19.376        39
17. Olivier Thielemans (NED)    Draco Multiracing USA   1.20.600        44
18. Fred Vervisch (NED)         Avelon Racing           1.21.622        92

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