Robert Doornbos gave A1 Team Netherlands a good start to the sixth round of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport in Portugal on Friday with fastest time in the afternoon free practice session.
With the 20 nations competing in the series making their first appearance at the 4,69-km Autodromo Internacional do Algarve near the city of Portimao, it was Doornbos and New Zealand’s Earl Bamber who made the early running with the Kiwi just 0,068s off the fastest lap. Third quickest was Monaco’s Clivio Piccione, 0,028s off the pace. With the top nine covered by less than a second, tomorrow’s third practice and qualifying is set to be a closely contested affair
South Africa’s Adrian Zaugg was 11th quickest, 1,417s behind Doornbos. “We tried a number of settings during the session and still have some work to do to get the optimum set-up for Vulindlela,” said the 21-year-old Zaugg. “This afternoon was our first time behind the wheel since the South African races at Kyalami seven weeks ago and we also had a new track to learn. It’s a busy lap, with 17 turns, and it will be a lot quicker tomorrow after more track activity.”
Earlier in the day, 29-year-old Cristiano Morgado made his second appearance for South Africa in the practice session reserved for rookie drivers and developing nations. He impressed in the first half of the session with sixth fastest time behind New Zealand (Bamber), France (Nicolas Prost) and Switzerland (Alexandre Imperatori) and was ninth at the end of the session behind Prost, Bamber and Germany’s Andre Lotterer.
“It was good to get back behind the wheel of Vulindlela, especially in Portugal,” said Morgado, whose parents are Portuguese. “Driving the A1GP Powered by Ferrari car is a big step up from my regular drive in Formula Volkswagen in South Africa and all-round the A1GP car is way faster, brakes better and is a totally different proposition. The Algarve circuit layout keeps you fully occupied throughout the lap – I wish we could have more time than the 17 laps we managed to complete. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to drive Vulindlela again.”
Saturday’s qualifying will be broadcast live on SABC3 from 15.00 to 17.00 and Sunday’s sprint and feature races will be broadcast from 1500 to 1730 (the recorded sprint race will be screened from 1500 while the feature race will be live from 16h00).
Related Stories:
- RSA A1GP Portugal Feature Report
In one of the best day’s racing in the five-year history of A1GP on a brand new circuit destined to be a great one, Switzerland’s Neel Jani became the winningest A1GP driver when he took... - RSA A1GP Portugal Qualifying Report
While Vitantonio Liuzzi claimed Italy’s first ever A1GP pole position for tomorrow’s Vodafone A1GP Algarve, Portugal, South Africa’s Adrian Zaugg delivered his best qualifying performance of the season and will start Sunday’s...... - RSA A1GP Kyalami RSA Friday Report
A1 Team South Africa’s Adrian Zaugg got his A1GP weekend off to a promising start at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit on Friday afternoon with sixth fastest time on the first practice day for Sunday’s GO-GP.Org... - A1GP Kyalami RSA Friday Report
Round Five of the 2008/09 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport season got underway in Gauteng, South Africa this afternoon with A1 Team France setting the early pace in the rookie session before A1 Team Lebanon’s...... - RSA Taupo NZL Friday Report
South Africa made a solid if unspectacular start to the fourth round of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport in Taupo, New Zealand today. Cristiano Morgado, making his debut in A1 Team South Africa’s Vulindlela......