Dubai Autodrome, Dubai – January
25 2008. Malaysian Fairuz Fauzy will start the first-ever
GP2 Asia Series
Sprint Race from pole position at the Dubai Autodrome following
a superb finish in the opening race on Friday. The Malaysian
has made an instant impression in the new motor racing
category and is delighted with his golden opportunity to
score a podium finish in the Sprint Race.
The opening Feature Race of the inaugural winter series
for GP2 machinery took place at the Dubai Autodrome and
Fairuz was in top form, reunited with his team Super Nova
Racing. The GP2 Asia Series is part of the new ‘Grand
Racing Weekend’ events and will support two Formula
1 races this year; the Malaysian and Bahrain Grands Prix.
Fairuz took an eighth place finish in the first of the
double-header encounters, which was a terrific debut result
for the Malaysian who rose from 13th on the starting grid. “The
red lights went out very quickly, but my reactions were
very fast and I got a great start,” said Fairuz. “I
was also helped by the fact that two drivers ahead of me
had problems on the formation lap and dropped out – because
of that I had a clear track in front of me.”
After making up five places in the opening laps, Fairuz
was circulating at the tricky desert circuit in seventh
place when he was called in for his mandatory pit stop.
Despite a slight problem with a sticking nut in one of
the rear tyres, Fairuz was soon back into the race challenging
for a points-finishing position.
Ahead of him on the road, Karun Chandhok spun and Fairuz
saw an opportunity to overtake the Indian. “I attempted
to get past him, but he managed to gather up his car and
stay ahead. It was at that point that I noticed there was
slight problem with the front of my car,” added the
25-year-old.
In the opening period of the race, Fairuz was squeezed
under braking into one of Dubai’s tight hairpins
and that caused him to lose a section of his front wing.
Consequently he struggled with the handling of his Super
Nova machine, but despite that problem, Fairuz was still
able to record his fastest lap which was just half a second
off the quickest of the race.
He continued to pursue his rivals, but ultimately had
to settle for ninth place at the chequered flag. However
following post-race scrutineering it was discovered that
seventh placed Sebastien Buemi was excluded – so
Fairuz inherited eighth place. And because the top eight
positions in the Sprint Race are reversed for the Feature
Race, it ensures Fairuz will start from pole position tomorrow.
“I’m absolutely delighted to record a pole
position in the first ever GP2 Asia Series event, it’s
a great way to start the season, to get points and hopefully
score a decent result in the Feature Race,” said
Fairuz.
The Dubai double-header races follows a week of testing
at the venue, where the Super Nova ace had been getting
to grips with the car, circuit and different compound tyres
in this series, but unfortunately lost some set-up time
with a few minor gearbox issues. Qualifying took place
on the morning of the Sprint Race and Fairuz was thwarted
after he changed to fresh rubber just as the track was
blocked due to an accident, as he result he could only
manage a time outside the top ten.
Tomorrow’s GP2 Asia Sprint Race starts at 1pm local
time.
Results
GP2 Asia Series, Dubai, Feature Race:
1 Romain Grosjean, ART Grand Prix, 59m 25.309s
2 Bruno Senna, iSport International, +12.358s
3 Andy Soucek, DPR, +17.347s
8 Fairuz Fauzy, Super Nova Racing, +40.767s
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