22 Jul 2009: Donington Park Race 2
Second Qualifying was more successful in getting a much better time out of the car even though the track was slower due to hotter temperatures.
Second Qualifying was more successful in getting a much better time out of the car even though the track was slower due to hotter temperatures.
From the first practice session on Friday I knew I had a great car underneath me for the weekend. Over the last week or two myself and my engineer have worked at a set up for Snetterton and after showing decent pace throughout the day on Friday I was feeling very confident for a great qualifying the next day.
Second qualifying was a lot hotter so getting a time in quickly before the tyres would overheat would be essential.
After two thirty-minute practice sessions the car was pretty much set up to how I would like, just making a few minor tweaks for the qualifying session upcoming later that day.
After a night of rain and a morning of wind there was a drying circuit for qualifying two.
After qualifying second in the national class I went into the first race 7 places on the grid behind Gabriel Dias, an immediate disadvantage.
Like the first race I started in second place only 3 cars behind Gabriel Dias this time, I would have more of a chance to fight for the lead.
After qualifying second for both races by only 0.1 of a second to Gabriel Dias I would always be on the back foot, so the start to the race would be the most important part.
After finishing second in the first race I wanted a first place to finish the weekend off well, starting second place again put me at a disadvantage but I knew I had good starts off the line so I thought I could get into the lead and stay there after some positive changes made to the car after race one.
Exciting start to the season. First qualifying session, pole position by 0.4 of a second – and first F3 podium!