Andi Zuber has converted the sublime pace he consistently showed in mid-season testing into his first GP2 Series pole position here at Silverstone today. The iSport International driver was untouchable in the qualifying session which saw local hero Mike Conway as the closest challenger to his pace. The Super Nova International driver eventually had to settle for second position with ART Grand Prix’s Lucas di Grassi a fine third.
Qualifying Report: The session began with Giorgio Pantano leading the train of cars out onto the cold and windy circuit. The drivers were all weaving wildly on their outlaps and first flyers, as they attempted to put some heat into the hard compound Bridgestone Potenzas. While the banker laps came in around the 1:35s, Mike was on a charge and posted a 1:28.890 to beat last year’s pole lap by over 0.2 seconds at the first attempt.
Moments later, and the morning pace-setter Timo Glock was back in charge of the Northamptonshire circuit, mastering its intricacies with a 1:28.671. Bruno Senna was out on his first serious lap after setting a banker, but when he hit a curb his Arden International car was sent spinning across the grass and into retirement. Already at this early stage, his banker was nowhere near 107% of the then fastest time, and the Brazilian will have to wait to hear whether or not he will be permitted to race by the stewards.
With just over 10 minutes gone, Andi popped in the top time with a 1:28.494 to lead Timo, Mike, Lucas, Kazuki Nakajima and Adam Carroll. But Andi wasn’t done yet. A further improvement to a 1:28.246 followed almost instantly, and after changing onto his second set of tyres he would go yet faster and drop in a 1:28.043. It was a time nobody would beat, despite the best efforts of his nearest rivals.
Timo wouldn’t get a chance to try, as he spun bizarrely into the barriers on cold tyres as he let a faster Luca Filippi through. But from those left, it was Mike who was impressing the most, quicker than anyone else through the second sector. As Lucas took second spot, Adam leapt up to fifth. A last minute flyer from Mike however, with that stunning middle sector, promoted him to second, putting Lucas third, Kazuki fourth, Timo fifth and Adam sixth.
1st Andi Zuber, iSport International. 1:28.043
For me it was very hard, but for everyone it is the same - there is a lot of wind, it’s very cold, and as I said before it’s really hard to get the tyres to the temperature, so you’ve just got to do the right lap at the right time. And obviously we did a very good job.
2nd Mike Conway, Super Nova International. +0.213
We’ve been pushing to get up to the front, and it’s come a little bit easier here in Silverstone, with the knowledge I’ve had from before. I’ve had some bad luck over the last few races, so it’s good to be back up there straight away, and hopefully this will be a good turning point for us.. 3rd Lucas di Grassi, ART Grand Prix. +0.278
It’s a very good consistency - we lose on average just to Andi, I think. So I’m happy to be again in a position to fight for the race, and the team did a great job.
| 
|