Racing engineering - Race 1In a race rich in incidents and with the safety car joining thetrack four times, Racing Engineering’s drivers faced mixedfortunes in race one at Spa. While Neel Jani stalled at the startof the race, Borja Garcia finished in an amazing 6th position afterstarting 20th.
Borja Garcia, starting from 20th position, looked back to an excitingrace - rain was predicted, but no one could tell at what point duringthe race. Some drivers took advantage of the first safety car phase atthe beginning of the race to stop for their obligatory tyre change.
However, most of the drivers stayed behind the safety car. Borjacame in on lap 8 and found himself caught up behind the safety caronce more on the following lap, when race leader Bruni crashed. Thesafety car neutralized the race once more as the rain set in, but Borjamade up position after position. Although race conditions weredifficult for the Spaniard, who stayed on dry tyres, he finished therace in 6th position.
Neel Jani, on the other hand, lost all opportunities for a good result atthe start: his car stalled and Neel was three laps behind the rest ofthe field when he rejoined the race. He continued In order to improvehis grid position for Sunday’s race, and finished in 16th position.
At the end of an exciting race Borja Garcia stated: “What a race! Thecar was really great. It was a good decision to not change to wettyres: with all the different conditions during this race, the team madea really good decision concerning the pit stop, and I would like tothank them. I was close to overtaking Alvarez, but I thought it's betterto have the points I have and not risk them all for one more. I amhappy to finish in 6th after starting from 20th position, the last twolaps were a bit tough, and Speed could pass me”
A disappointed Neel Jani noted: “The car stalled at the start. I madeup some positions to have a better position on Sunday's grid.During the race we mounted wet tyres when we noticed the first rain,these were getting better and better towards the end of the racewhen the rain became heavier.”
Alfonso De Orleans added: “This was a strange race. The tacticspaid off correctly today for the tyre change and allowed Borja tomake it to the points. The timing was just perfect, as any sooner orlater and it might not have worked out this way.”
