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After
the charming Monaco race of last week, the F3000 circus moved to
the German track of Nürburgring.
The Nürburgring circuit, located 90 km south west of Cologne,
in the middle of the Eifel mountains, is similar to the Spa-Francorchamps
track. The area is characterised by sudden and frequent weather
changes, which will make for a challenging weekend for the teams
and especially for the drivers’ performances because of the
most probably very low grip level of the track.
In
cooler conditions than those encountered at last races, team Arden
driver Robert Doornbos experienced the German track for the first
time at the wheel of a F3000 car. During an eventful qualifying
session the Dutch man put his Lola ahead, in top positions, with
the first set of new tyres.
With
second set of Avon to b e used Robert (not completely recovered
from the bad flu that attacked him at Montecarlo) dropped to a final
8th position after suffering grid penalty in some parts of the track,
which asphalt has been reviewed. In tomorrow race Robert will be
focused on attacking from the start to the finish chasing for another
podium finish.
Robert
Doornbos – P8, 1:48.854
“During both free practice session and the first part of qualifying
I was quite satisfied for my performance, despite the flu. I headed
the time sheet with 1st and then 3rd fastest lap with 1st set of
tyres. I felt the car quite good even if I knew I had to learn the
track and the breaking points. Then I entered the pit to change
the tyres and my team asked me to wait before rejoin the track.
I stayed there 15 minutes and I think it was too much; I’m
not used to wait for such a long time, I loose my concentration.
When I rejoined the circuit my car was well balanced with the 2nd
set of tyres; I improved a little bit m y best lap time, but it
wasn’t enough”.
<
br>Robert will start from the 4th row, alongside E.Guerrieri
(1:48.743)
The pole position was secured by Vitantonio Liuzzi (team Arden)
1:47.734, Toccacelo, Enge, Lopez, Van Hooydonk, Guerrieri, Doornbos,
etc..
Robert
Doornbos is actually lying in 4th position in the Drivers standing,
with 9 points.
Nürburgring circuit:
Lap length: 5,148 km
Total length: 154,44 km
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