Hockenheimring: Racing Engineering qualifying report

Race against Time It was a race against time for the Racing Engineering team and Adam Carroll to even make it to qualifying in Hockenheim today. Just over an hour from the start of the session, the team were forced to change an engine; a request ...

Race against Time

It was a race against time for the Racing Engineering team and Adam Carroll to even make it to qualifying in Hockenheim today. Just over an hour from the start of the session, the team were forced to change an engine; a request which was made to manufacturer Mecachrome after free practice this morning when a misfire was reported. But the target was reached and both cars went out on the half hour showdown.

It was the usual action packed GP2 qualifying with spins, crashes and some very close battles for position. Unfortunately a hydraulic failure on Carroll's car meant he was often unable to change gear and he finished in 12th with a 1:23:457. Javi Villa worked solidly and starts tomorrow's 40 lap feature race from 22nd , half a second behind his team mate. Hockenheim is a notoriously tough circuit on the tyres and brakes and soaring temperatures didn't make things any easier for the drivers or indeed the mechanics who worked frantically to replace the engine.

Team Principal Alfonso de Orleans Borbon said
"I'm actually upset with how late we got the engine. The team all worked so hard to install it but there was no time to look at the set-up and that contributed to Adam's problem with the gears. It's very unfair on Adam as he felt the car was good and I'm sure had he not been able to secure pole, he would definitely have been in the top 3. But Mecachrome just didn't give us a chance."

Adam Carroll:
"The team did a great job and under the circumstances I don't think 12th is all that bad considering what we went through; I never thought I'd say that! I was on a good lap right up until the 2nd last corner which would have put me in the top five certainly, but the gear got stuck and I couldn't do anything about it. But I'll get a good start tomorrow and work my way through the traffic."

Javi Villa:
"There was a yellow flag so I came in and changed tyres. The car went much better and faster on the second set. Hockenheim is such a different circuit with the long straights and there are some tricky corners to look out for which caught out several drivers. Tomorrow I start near the back but I feel the car has improved from the last round in France and as always, I will push and hope to finish mid-field."