FIA-GT BRNO
BRNO
April 14-April 16
WORLD GT CHAMPIONSHIP
Brno Round
First Qualifying Practice Session
Sunday 15 April 2001
Weather
Sunday dawned cold but clear, but by the time the first qualifying session started, the skies had clouded over and light snow had started to fall.
First Qualifying Practice Session
The forty-five minute qualifying session was extremely close, with the top seven cars within one second. Despite a number of spins at the start, the cars settled down, with Vincent Vosse leading the times early on, in the n°12 Paul Belmondo Racing Chrysler Viper GTS-R. Jamie Campbell-Walter was next to set the fastest time, in the n°1 Lister. The cars were improving each lap, with David Terrien taking the n°62 JMB Racing Ferrari 360 Modena onto the N-GT pole fifteen minutes into the session. With light but persistent snow falling, the track remained dry, and Bailey set the fastest lap half-way through, with a time of 1:59.358.
Lister on provisional pole
Julian Bailey repeated his Monza feat by setting the fastest time in the first qualifying session, with a lap of 1:59.358 in the n°1 Lister storm. "I was really worried early on, as I couldn't get the tyres to warm up, and then I couldn't get a clean lap," Bailey said. "Even on my fast lap I lost time due to a car coming out of the pits. I was very lucky to pip Jamie - it was a very competitive session. But I think we'll be at a disadvantage - the car really doesn't like these temperatures." Jamie Campbell-Walter, demoted to second place by Julian half-way through the session, had wanted to try and regain the lead. "When I heard Julian had gone faster, I wanted to go straight back out, but there was no real point. It's just a matter of pride !"
Larbre Competition fastest of the Vipers
Once again the n°7 Larbre Competition-Chereau was the fastest of the Chrysler Vipers, setting a lap of 1:59.538, the third overall time. As in Monza, all three Larbre cars made the Superpole session, with Von Gartzen and Eichmann third fastest in N-GT, and Goueslard and Dumez under two tenths of a second slower in fourth place.
Three Belmondo cars for the Superpole
All three Paul Belmondo Chrysler Viper GTS-R cars qualified for this afternoon's Superpole session, with Didier Defourny setting the sixth-best time on the very last lap of the session. "I'm very pleased because all the cars are present this time, and we still managed to get all the cars into the top qualifying," Paul Belmondo said. "It's not easy with the cold and the snow, as the track conditions keep changing, and sometimes you
lose grip, but it's the same for everyone." Vincent Vosse was the fastest of the team's drivers."We had the right tactics - we put new tyres on right away and went for the time at the beginning, keeping a second new set for this afternoon's superpole. That's what we did in Monza, and it was a good thing."
Disappointment for Carsport Holland
After missing the Monza race with engine problems, Carsport Holland continue to make progress, but are still plagued with a number of problems. Yesterday the n°3 Chrysler Viper lost time when the gear-stick broke ; today it was a flat battery which cost Mike Hezemans and Jeroen Bleekemolen time. "We just missed out on the Superpole," Hezemans said, after being pushed out of the top six on the very last lap of the session. "I only got one lap on the new tyres, and really needed three full laps to do a good time, so I couldn't do anything." As for the n°4 Chrysler Viper, all the times were cancelled as the car was found to be underweight.
Grip problems for Team Rafanelli
"We just can't find enough grip - it's the same problem for both cars," Team Rafanelli's Marc Duez said, after both Rafanelli Ferrari 550 Maranellos failed to qualify for the Superpole session. Naspetti and Schiatarella were eighth fastest, with a lap of 2:00.609, with Duez and Blieninger just over a second slower. "It's a great shame ; we just can't find the same agility in the car that we had at Monza. We keep on searching and making changes - my engineer was up all night thinking about the problem. If the race was next Thursday, perhaps we'd be ready" But we can't be pessimistic, and people must give us the time we need. No car has ever won a race on its second time out ! "
More problems for Wieth Racing
Wieth Racing have continued to have a problematic race weekend, having some of their times disallowed during the first qualifying session due to a wing height problem. "Yesterday's problems with the wheel nuts have been solved," Niko Wieth explained. "But now we have an engine problem, and we do not have enough horse-power. If we get the engine running it should be OK ."
JMB Competition on N-GT Pole
"We keep our promises !" David Terrien said, after stating before this weekend that the JMB Competition Ferrari 360 Modena was now ready to win. The Frenchman set a time of 2:04.529 to lead the N-GT category, three tenths ahead of Luca Riccitelli's RWS Motorsport Porsche 996 GT3-R. After Pescatori was third fastest in yesterday's free practice, the team had a very complete briefing and the car is now much better. However, the session did not start well for Terrien, as he spun on his out lap. "It was very slippery, and although I was going carefully, trying to warm the tyres, it was still treacherous. But the car was very good, and I'm very pleased - the development corresponds to our objectives, and we've shown what we're capable of doing. Some of the other teams have more experience, but at least we're in the game now !"
RWS Motorsport second in N-GT
Riccitelli placed the RWS / Red Bull Racing Porsche 996 GT3-R in second place in N-GT for this afternoon's Superpole session, with a lap of 2:04.869. "The car is better than yesterday," Dieter Quester explained. "Luca did all the work in the session, but we're still not happy. It's too soft, and the car is rolling too much, which means we're losing grip. We have a problem with the car since Monza, and we don't know if it's the shocks, the tyres or the drivers ! I think we need to change to shocks to Moton, like the other car. Actually, I think the old car handled better than the new one does."
Freisinger Motorsport : Kaufmann in the Superpole
The n° 57 Freisinger Motorsport Porsche 996 GT3-R cars will be in the Superpole session, after Wolfgang Kaufmann set the fifth time in N-GT. "Fifth isn't too bad," Kaufmann said. "The team were working until 3 a.m. to solve lots of little problems. The car is running OK now, with only a little overbraking at the rear, but we don't know why. These conditions are difficult for all the teams, but especially for Yokohama, who are new to the Championship, and who do not have as many teams from whom to gather data. But it's a good beginning, and everything should get better."
Perspective Racing : Perrier on his own
"It was a bit difficult as I've never driven here before and suddenly I'm the number one driver, and I'm only really an amateur," Thierry Perrier explained after qualifying in 13th place in the N-GT category. "Having Michel Neugarten alongside me is very important, not only to drive, but to exchange ideas. We're still discovering everything, so generally I'm pleased."
Coca Cola Racing for last Superpole place
Czech-based team Coca Cola Racing claimed the final place in the N-GT Superpole quota, with the line-up of Malcharek, Enge and Venc setting a time of 2:05.236 in their n° 65 Porsche 996 GT3-R. Tomas Enge, their F3000 driver, will be doing the Superpole this afternoon.
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