Good Progress For A1 Team Pakistan At Zandvoort
Sep 29, 2007
A1GP
A1 Team Pakistan kicked off the 2007/8 A1GP season today, at a wet and windy Zandvoort Circuit Park in the Netherlands. In a newly liveried car, Adam Khan was behind the wheel and following a new qualifying format, will line up 16th for tomorrow’s Sprint race and 17 th for the Feature race.
As last season, the team complete four qualifying segments, with one flying lap per segment. However, in a change to last season’s regulations, grid positions for the Sprint race are set by the team’s fastest lap from the first two segments, and the Feature race grid from the team’s fastest lap in the second two segments.
After torrential rain throughout the morning’s practice sessions, the track remained wet for the first qualifying segment. Leaving the pits for his first flying lap, Khan’s first attempt was hindered by two stranded cars on track and the segment was red flagged. With just five minutes before segment two to make set up changes, the Pakistan car was soon back on track to better the team’s first qualifying time, and duly went seven tenths quicker. With the best time taken from the first two segments, A1 Team Pakistan will line up 16th for tomorrow’s Sprint race.
As the track dried and Khan pushed the limits of the car, the team continued to improve, with the A1 Team Pakistan’s fastest lap of the day set in the final qualifying segment. This time was enough to put the team 17 th for tomorrow’s Feature race. Speaking about his qualifying performance, Adam said, “I have mixed feelings about today. I came here with a positive outlook and I’m still positive despite not qualifying where I would have liked. Ideally a top ten grid slot would have been good, but anything is possible from where we are. Tomorrow could be tricky, if the weather predictions are to be believed it is going to dry, which will be difficult for me as I have no experience here in the dry as opposed to the drivers that have been here before. Still we will do the best we can; I’ve come from lower down the grid before to score points. Today was only qualifying, racing is completely different and we have many laps ahead of us before the chequered flag. ”
Team Manager, Bobby Issazadhe commented, “Adam did a good job today. He hasn’t been in a race car since the beginning of the year and I think this probably affects him more in these conditions than it would the dry. Also, there are a few changes we need to make to the car to perfect the set-up. We are looking at the rear end of the car especially; there isn’t enough grip at the back of the car at the moment, we’ll see if we can help Adam with that ahead of the race tomorrow. ”
A1 Team Pakistan seatholder Arid Husain added, “I’m pleased with today’s progress, the atmosphere within the team is amazing, there’s a great sense of team work and camaraderie. Everyone is working together well and Adam has a great relationship with the team which is very important.
“This track is new to Adam and he has not driven the car at a race weekend since season one, so in many ways, Adam is getting up to speed this weekend. I’m very hopeful that we will improve our position tomorrow, but it’s a good start and I’m very satisfied. I’m sure the team’s fans and followers will be too. ” The team will be back on track for the Sprint race at 11.00 tomorrow, followed by the Feature race at 15.00, which will now include two mandatory pit stops.
