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Racing Engineering Monza qualifying report

Racing Engineering press release

Edited: Jun 1, 2018, 1:19 PM

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Dani Clos

A strong qualifying performance from Racing Engineering today at Monza.

Dani Clos

Photo by: GP2 Media Service

Today’s Qualifying session at Monza proved to be a very close with the top 12 cars separated by just 0.5 seconds. Racing Engineering’s two drivers were right on the pace with Dani Clos finishing 6th and Christian Vietoris just one place further back in 7th.

In the Free Practice session, held in the morning, both drivers concentrated on setting up their cars to the demands of Monza rather than go for a fast time and, at the end of the 30 minutes, Vietoris finished in 13th place and Clos 0.43 seconds behind in 21st.

As the cars started their 30 minutes of Qualifying it was clear, from the start, that in the hot, dry conditions it would be a very competitive session with all the teams looking for a positive finish to the season.

From the start both Clos and Vietoris were amongst the fastest runners and within a few minutes Clos had taken the second fastest time and with 15 minutes gone Clos was lying third with Vietoris sixth. As Qualifying entered its second 15 minute period all the cars stopped at the pits to put on new tyres in order to go for their quickest times.

With five minutes to go just as everyone was ready to make their final effort a car stopped on the circuit causing a yellow flag period. With not enough time to move the car the session ended still under the yellow and with many drivers frustrated that their fastest laps were ruined. Vietoris in particular had just set his fastest first sector time when he was forced to slow.

Despite this problem Clos will start 6th with a time of 1m 32.684, just 0.335 seconds from the fastest time and Vietoris, with a time of 1m 32.727 will start from 7th.

With both of Racing Engineering’s drivers setting such competitive times they will be among the favourites for a podium position or even a win in tomorrow’s Feature Race.

Team Quotes:

Dani Clos: “It's been a tough qualifying. We were quick from the very beginning, but still lacked some tenths. It was tough, because there were many yellow flags and many cars trying to get a fast lap in. It's a narrow track, so it's not so easy to get a lap without traffic, but I am happy, and we could always do things better. We made a big step from free practice to qualifying and I hope for another one for tomorrow's race.”

Christian Vietoris: “This was not bad. We improved from this morning's session and the car felt better in qualifying. We could have been even faster in this session, but I am satisfied. Tomorrow the decisive factors will be a good start and how long the tyres will last. We will now work on the preparation of tomorrow's race.”

Alfonso de Orléans-Borbón, president of Racing Engineering: “A very good job from both drivers. It's a pity they were not able to get a tow like the drivers in front of them. I think they could have been in the top 3 in this case. However, well done from the entire team and we will work hard now to prepare tomorrow's race.”

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