FIA GT1 World Championship - Round Two - Zolder Circuit, Belgium
The Sumo Power GT team experienced its worst FIA GT1 World Championship weekend yet, when neither of its Nissan GT-Rs finished Saturday's race one and then, in Sunday's race two, both crashed at the start. The team realised that their trip to Zolder was going to be a tough one, but didn't expect it to be as tough as it turned out to be.
QualifyingBelgium's un-seasonally warm and dry weather for Friday's Free Practice and Pre-Qualifying sessions allowed the Sumo Power GT team to try a variety of set ups. This was a welcome opportunity, as there was some concern prior to arriving that the track's tight and twisty sections would not bring the best out of its Nissan GT-R's.
The first of the three qualifying sessions sees the fastest 14 go through to Q2, with the fastest eight then progressing to Q3. Jamie Campbell-Walter and David Brabham had no problem in getting car #21 into Q3 and consequently went on to qualify P8.
Unfortunately for Ricardo Zonta and Enrique Bernoldi in car #20, lack of grip meant that they only made it as far as Q2 and qualified P11. However, with some cars - including car #20 - getting a three-position penalty applied for not slowing down enough under a yellow flag during Pre-Qualifying, Jamie and David lined up for the Qualifying Race in seventh and Ricardo and Enrique in 14th.
Qualifying RaceWith turn one being a narrow and tightening left-hander only 300 yards after the start, it was perhaps inevitable there would be some sort of contact between the 18 GT1 cars on the grid. As it turned out it was the Aston Martin and Lamborghini on the front row that had a coming together, forcing David - who was first to drive in car #21 - and then Enrique, in car #20, to take evasive action - which they executed successfully.
At the end of the first lap both had improved on their start positions and were circulating together, with David eighth and Enrique ninth. Even though there was less than 0.5 second separating them and the cars ahead, positions were maintained until the mandatory mid-race pit stop, where every team has to change four wheels and its drivers.
Having rehearsed the procedure many times since round one, the Sumo Power GT tyre crews were on top form and both cars were stopped in their respective pit boxes for a shade less than 25 seconds. Jamie, who had swapped with David, joined the race in sixth position, whist Ricardo got back on track in eighth.
With both drivers confident that they could start to push - their Nissan GT-Rs feeling the best they had been all weekend - it came as bitter disappointment when Ricardo had to stop to have a rear puncture replaced on lap 26 and then return to the pits for good on lap 29 when he sensed a vibration coming from the back of his car. Then, with just a few laps of the race to go, Jamie also had to stop, when a drive-train problem brought his car to a halt and he had no choice but to pull off the circuit.
The team took solace that its lap times and pit-stop performance for both cars was just what it was hoping for this weekend. The crews then set about re-preparing its Nissans in readiness for Sunday's Championship Race, where a greater amount of points can be scored.
Qualifying results PDF <http://www.rpmpromotions.com/sumopower/QualifyingRaceResult100411.pdf
Championship RaceWith both of the Sumo Power GT-Rs restored to 100% and everything going well in the Sunday morning warm-up, hopes were high that both cars would improve on their grid positions of 11th and 12th - especially as two 'mascot' Sumo Wrestlers joined the team for the pre-race grid walk.
The tension then mounted as the field headed towards the line for the usual explosive rolling start, especially in light of the previous day's turn-one incident. However, the chaos started before cars even reached the first bend.
As the lights went green, Ricardo in car #20 moved into the centre of the track to get a clearer run up to the first corner. But as he did so, the car alongside him moved the other way, the two of them touched and the Nissan spun sharply left and straight into Jamie in car #21.
As if locked together, the two Sumo Power GT Nissans slid all the way down the wall on the outside of the track, until they parted company at the entrance of turn one. Both were so badly damaged there was no chance of continuing and it brought what started out as a promising weekend to a disappointing end.
The team could not believe what it had just witnessed. But, as it always does, it has vowed to bounce back in a few weeks time, when the championship heads to Portimao in the Algarve for round three on 8 May. It's a circuit that holds good memories for Sumo Power GT, as it won the Qualifying Race there last year.
Race results PDF <http://www.rpmpromotions.com/sumopower/QualifyingRaceResult100411.pdf
Team QuotesRicardo Zonta (Car 20)"After having to stop in the first race, we really needed some better luck today, but we didn't get it. At the start of today's race I moved to the middle of the road to get a clearer track ahead of me and then the car alongside me moved, we hit and I spun round and into Jamie. There was nothing I could do about it. It's really not what we wanted after a non-finish in the Championship Race at Abu Dhabi."
Enrique Bernoldi (Car 20)"The car felt better in the morning warm up, and I would have had brand new tyres for my part of today's race, so I think we could have had a good result. It is very disappointing not to drive, but what happened to Ricardo and Jamie is even more disappointing for the team."
Jamie Campbell-Walter (Car 21)"I can't believe what happened out there! Everyone is trying to win the race in the first 200 yards. I was just driving down the inside of the track in a straight line and suddenly Ricardo, who must have got tangled up with another car, spun into me and I got pushed into the wall. I ended up in the gravel on the outside of turn one with no steering and that was it. Race over."
David Brabham (Car 21)"Although we didn't finish yesterday's race, the team has worked hard to improve things from Abu Dhabi. But as for today's race: what can I say! All we can do now is repair the car and rebuild the sprit of the team before the next round."
Hiroke Furuse (Team Manager)"After working into the early hours last night to get the cars ready for today's main race, I feel so sorry for the whole team we had two DNFs. We didn't deserve an outcome like this. We knew Zolder was going to be tough, but not this tough. When we get the cars back to the UK we'll get our heads down and bounce back at the next event in a few weeks time."
Andy Barnes (Team Principal)"Well that's not what we were looking for. It's a weekend to forget, that's for sure. After the effort everyone's put in since we've been in Zolder we deserved far better than this. Whilst we were not expecting to be the fastest out there this weekend, I was pleased with the progress made by the team since Abu Dhabi. Rest assured that we'll come back fighting for round three in the Algarve, as we won there last year!"
