FIA F2

Asia: Qatar: Davide Rigon weekend summary

GP2 ASIA - Davide Rigon and Qatar This weekend Davide Rigon has christened the GP2 Asia championship by taking part in the fourth round of the series on the track of Losail - Qatar - at the wheel of the Dallara-Renault team Trident Racing. For ...

Published: Jun 19, 2009, 7:36 PM

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GP2 ASIA - Davide Rigon and Qatar

This weekend Davide Rigon has christened the GP2 Asia championship by taking part in the fourth round of the series on the track of Losail - Qatar - at the wheel of the Dallara-Renault team Trident Racing. For David it was the first true weekend with these car, having just taken part in a test session in 2007 on the Paul Ricard track as a reward for winning the Euroseries 3000. As per tradition, the weekend was split between free practice, qualifications - for 30 'each - and the two race, though with a single: as the Formula 1 was turned on for the first time the lights a few months ago in Singapore, the GP2 Series could not be less. The cadet class, in fact, has written an important page of history of disputed his first race at night

"I have heard of many pilots who have suffered for the horses, while I have had a chance to run the race, and win, the 24H of Spa and Adria with Ferrari F430 GT I have not had any problems and I've adapted immediately, because in that case, the visibility was very low "commented Davide Rigon" The lighting system was something fantastic in fact did not seem to run even at night. Only in some places visibility was reduced. What I found was heavy enough to stay on track throughout the day when it was necessary to wait the six in the evening to begin preparing. I can not sleep until noon and at 8:00 am I was already raised to go to the circuit.

As far as the results obtained throughout the team was very pleased, especially since we managed to gain a car with performance and certainly not with a motor at peak performance. Given the short time available (only 30 'for the free practice and qualification) is a great work before you get off track in trying to study in minute detail the layout.

During the free practice to stay as long as possible on the track for yourself with the layout and learn all the procedures related to the car. Right away I was able to impose a good rhythm managing to stay in the top ten and only in the final minutes, I was beyond, concluding the session with the fourteenth time. Telemetry reviewing the agreements that we have not had the engine at peak performance, and not entitled to change, we changed the gear ratios and made some minor adjustments to the setup.

With the first train I was able to bring the car up to the eighth spot, while the second set I could not improve as much as they had done the others slipping up to twenty-third place. In the final minutes, using a red flag, yet we made a change, and when the runway reopened, I descended to the last lap dry where I scored a 1′38 "320. At that point I realized that would be a very difficult weekend because without a propeller at the top you can not do miracles.

"For the first appointment we have again changed the gear ratios to optimize the engine, even if that meant sacrificing the performance of the car, and the balance: the way I made a good start despite being the first time with the clutch at the wheel could to climb up to fourteen. The second curve, unfortunately, I was touched and my time, I slightly buffered the pilot who preceded me as going to ruin the front wing. With the forced stop and have marched last point which we opted for an aggressive strategy: after having stopped for my stop at the seventh step, I started to push successfully run on the same days of the first. By mid race, unfortunately the car has been a sharp decline in performance, managing to return to run on time only interesting to the end, when the rubber had been consumed, making overtaking even beautiful.

Despite the changes made before the second appointment to avoid a further decrease to half the race on time the problem has once again, becoming difficult to defend against attacks. In the end I finished in fifteenth place with all the problems we had we were still happy with our pace, in other conditions because we could get two beautiful results. "

The GP2 Asia will again turn its propellers April 4 on the Sepang track for the fifth stage "Regarding my future we're looking for the budgets to deal with the season in GP2 Main Series (my main goal) and, if we find the resources will be very likely one of my participation in the next stages in the GP2 Asia in Malaysia (April 4) and Bahrain (April 24), "

-credit: minardi.it

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