Race One Report

Pippa Mann’s torrid weekend continued on Saturday afternoon, as the 23-year old from Suffolk faced more heartache as she was denied the chance to climb up through the field following an incident on lap one.  Finishing the race in 24th place, the result was agonizingly unrepresentative of Mann’s impressive performance.  Posting the second fastest lap of the race overall, second fastest time in sector three, and fastest time in sector two, unfortunately for Mann it was a case of ’if only’…  

Mann made a fantastic start off the line, but before she was halfway to the first corner, Ben Hanley (Prema Powerteam) had a collision, sending his car up into the air where he connected with the pit wall.  The field was forced to brake and swerve to avoid debris, so Mann backed off but still made up three places exiting turn one. 

At turn two another car went off into the gravel ahead of Mann and re-joined on the entry into the third corner, just in front of the Cram by P1 car.  Mann had nowhere to go and the impact knocked her right front tyre and damaged the front wing.  Nursing the car back to the pits, Mann came in for a wing change but unfortunately, as the incident occurred outside of the pit window, the team would have to bring her in separately for the mandatory tyre change. 

Knowing she would have to make a second pitstop, Mann continued and was lapping impressively.  The team called her in relatively early on in the race, and when she re-joined was amongst the leaders – albeit a lap down.  However, the No.20 WSR machine was lapping consistently quickly, and actually gaining on those leading the race.

Mann brought the Cram by P1 car home in 24th position, from where she will start Race Two.  Her notable pace was bittersweet for all involved, as had gearbox problems not hindered her qualifying position, she could well have been challenging for some major points in Estoril.

Pragmatic as ever Mann said, “Of course it’s good to know that the only two people to break into the 1:27.00s during that race were myself and the winner.  You have to look at the positives – I’ve been quick since we got here…  I was fast when we put the car down, fast yesterday afternoon, even fast for my one qualifying lap and definitely right up there during the race in terms of speed.  I’m sure we’ll be quick tomorrow, I’m just hoping we have a bit more luck.”