On the Chengdu circuit A1 Team Netherlands has had the first free practice sessions with their two new drivers. After Dennis Retera had started things off in the Rookie session, it was Robert Doornbos who set a fifth fastest time in the afternoon during an incident packed first official practice.
In the morning Dennis Retera had finished in 12th place in the Rookie test, after his very first laps with the 600 bhp Powered by Ferrari car, setting a fastest lap of 1’18.826. India, which had been given special dispensation to enter the Rookie test with Karthikeyan was fastest on track, but France driver Nicolas Prost was the fastest real Rookie driver, setting a time of 1’16.722.
Robert Doornbos went out on the Chengdu International Circuit for the first time this afternoon for his maiden A1GP practice. The session saw a number of red flags, amongst others after Malaysia and China, with Ho-Pin Tung behind the wheel, had spun off. Early in the session it was France that set the pace, but after the first restart of the practice reigning champions Switzerland took the lead and did not give it away. Doornbos managed to keep the leader in his sights, he finished in fifth, two tenths behind with a time of 1’16.558, one place ahead of Marco Andretti of A1 Team USA.
Robert Doornbos; “We did not have the perfect gearbox ratio’s today. Despite that we were only two tenths behind Neel Jani. The top five is very close but now I get a chance to look at Jani’s fastest lap and see where he gained two tenths on me. It was the first time in the car during an official weekend, apart from the shakedown at Snetterton. But it is very cool to represent your country. I think that it will be a though race physically. The circuit is very bumpy and that takes a lot of energy. If I finish on the podium on Sunday it will mean I am one of the fitter drivers here, if I do not finish on the podium, then I am not amongst the fittest. “
Dennis Retera; “I have enjoyed this experience. Fortunately the team was pleased and that is why I can also drive at Sepang. The grip level is amazing and a lot more than what I am used to, my neck muscles know what they have to cope with. That’s what it is all about, learning, experiencing and getting stronger. It is a joy to work with such professional people, they are great coaches for me. Now I will watch Roberts performance very closely, because there is much more to learn still. Also I can play host to the Chinese guest of Antonov Plc. this weekend. That way I will make some good use of myself, because I do not really like sitting around and doing nothing.”
Jan Lammers; Everything is going smoothly. Dennis Retera has successfully done his Rookie test and that is why he will be also present at Sepang. Now he has the privilege of having Robert Doornbos as his coach and later on Jeroen Bleekemolen will try and help him forward again. The Rookie seat is perfect for drivers to put themselves under the spotlight again and at the same time gain experience. He did exactly what was expected of him, drive fast enough to gain data we can use and carefully enough not to break anything. A mature approach of a young man. Robert Doornbos can now make his debut and I have no doubt in my mind that it will go very well. All in all I am very pleased about our driver line up this year. Robert and Jeroen are both good guys to work with, we should be proud of that.Watch, enjoy and cheer us on, we can use all the support we can get.”
During this weekend a number of teams have been allocated extra track time, due to the fact that they were not yet able to test the new A1GP car. Great Britain and Mexico, who had to miss Zandvoort, will get an additional two hours running. David Garza, was able to go out on track though, even though his own car was not ready yet, so he used the A1 Team Switzerland car.
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