Qualifying for the French Round of the FIA World Touring Car Championship took place today (27th June 2015) and it proved to be a topsy turvey affair for the LADA SPORT ROSNEFT Team.
After a promising testing session on the Thursday (26 June) the team were optimistic to carry forward its recent good form but under blistering temperatures in the south of France the team found it difficult to get the maximum from the Lada Vesta TC1 throughout official practice and as such expected a turbulent time in Qualifying.
As it transpired the LADA SPORT ROSNEFT team and its drivers appeared to have got to grips with the situation as the three Vesta TC1 cars looked solid for progression into Q2. That was until Rob Huff, starting his final flying run was pitched into a lurid spin that saw his Lada Vesta strike a circuit marker and eliminate the Englishman from the session and relegating him to a P16 start for tomorrows two races.
The squads recent driver shuffle therefore handed the mantle to the Dutch pairing of Jaap Van Lagen and Nick Catsburg who did not disappoint, both posting times sufficient to progress in the next round of elimination qualifying.
After first laps in the ten minute session that saw the two LADA SPORT ROSNEFT drivers placed in P9 and P11, both drivers had sufficient new tyres for a second run but it proved that only Van Lagen had sufficient time for the pit visit to make a second attempt at improvement. Catsburg resigned to a P12 start for both races after an enforced visit to the weigh bridge as he pitted for his second set of fresh tyres, a costly call as time did not allow this option after the checks had been completed.
Van Lagen who had looked strong all weekend did not see the need to improve as his P9 represented a good position to start race 1 and guarantee a front row start in Race 2.
Jaap Van Lagen “We are bit further back than we were in Moscow and Slovakia but with the reverse grid it gives us a chance. Hopefully I will get a better start from P2 than I did from P1 in Slovakia and get a podium for myself and the LADA SPORT ROSNEFT Team”.
Nick Catsburg said: “I am really frustrated that I had to make a weigh check in the middle of the Q2 session. The moment I was called was obvious that would be the end of my qualifying and the chances for making TOP10. That is sad; I am also annoyed with myself for not getting the job done on my first lap. However, I am very happy for Jaap but I should have been up there with him”.
Rob Huff “Looking back I think that whatever happened at the back of the car that pitched me off (in qualifying) was developing in Practice, we made some changes but I couldn’t see any effects from them. I’ve got a bit of a job on my hands from near the back for both races but I love a challenge and the boys will get the car back together for me to do the best job I can for the team”.
Victor Shapovalov “That was something of a recovery situation, Jaap on the front row gives us a good chance in Race 2 for a result that maybe wasn’t expected after practice”.
Tomorrows races, rounds 13 and 14 of the FIA World Touring Car Championship, The JVC Kenwood Round of France, take place tomorrow Sunday 28th June at 12.45 and 14.00 hrs CET and will be broadcast live on Eurosport.
