SRT maintains a top-4 in FIA GT-championship GT,F1, formule 1 | Constructors F1 Constructors F1

SRT maintains a top-4 in FIA GT-championship

Miroslav Sanytrák | 1.9.09 | Aktuálně

BUDAPEST. In the fifth race of the FIA GT championship on the Hungaroring (Budapest-Hungary) SRT clinched a sixth place. As such the SRT duo James Ruffier and Bert Longin maintain a top-4 spot in the championship, at only one point from third place, the top priority for the last three remaining races. For SRT this was the fifth consecutive time in five races they have been scored points. “Notwithstanding that we’re not satisfied with this 6th place”, team manager Patrick Selleslagh told us. “The car was perfect and once again we could have got far more out it. A tyre problem near the end of the race held us back from a place in the top-4, and we would then have still been third in the championship. But OK, we’ll just need to keep on working hard in Portugal, France and Zolder and try to do improve.”

For the teams in the FIA GT the summer holidays came to an end on 29th and 30th August, and this was the case for SRT also, who had also fought a legendary battle during the 24 Hours of Spa at the end of July. For the first time since 2006 the greatest GT championship in the world travelled on down for their fifth meeting of the season to Hungary’s capital, Budapest, for a two hour race held on the F1 Hungaroring circuit, within the vicinity of the Hungarian capital. On Saturday afternoon Bert Longin set the eighth qualifying time on the Hungaroring in Budapest.

In the first instance the race started off well for Bert Longin, who took the start. The Leuven based driver went from eighth through to fifth at the start and fought out a great battle up font. “Perfect proof that car was running well”, Longin commented after his stint. “Unfortunately I was nudged by another competitor during a fight which resulted in one of the Corvette’s wheel rims being slightly damaged. In itself not really a problem, but during the tyre change this damage did cost us some valuable time.”

This meant that James Ruffier found himself caught behind Anthony Kumpen and on this twisty and slow Budapest track it was difficult to get through. Bert Longin: “As such I was back at the wheel in eighth spot, but the rear tyres were truly shot. I didn’t get the chance to build up a proper pace and only the retirement of a competitor and the DSQ of another gave us the chance to regain places. It is especially frustrating not to achieve a good result with a good car and a great team. With each race something can go amiss whereby we miss out on two or three points. Just add it up for yourself... We must now really hope that luck will be on our side for the rest of the season so that we can go flat out for that third place in the championship!”

The following race will be held on 19th and 20th September in the Algarve, Portugal.

RESULT:
1. Wendlinger/Sharp Saleen S7
2. Bertolini/Bartels Maserati MC 12 
3. Pier Guidi/Bobbi Maserati MC 12 
...
7. Longin/Ruffier Corvette C6.R

Štítky

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