Night racing challenge at Losail
GP2 Asia Series team My Qi-Meritus.Mahara is geared up for the challenge of the first ever night race when the fourth round of the competition gets underway at the Losail International Circuit from tomorrow.
The Malaysian-Saudi racing team which is also the only truly Asian team in the all new GP2 Asia Series is aiming to continue its fine display of a second place podium finish by its New Zealand driver Earl Bamber in the opening round in Shanghai, China.
Italian Marco Bonanomi is the second driver who will be representing the team in the event.
My Qi-Meritus.Mahara president and team founder Peter Thompson said the team would continue to be competitive.
"This weekend's racing would be different as none of the teams have experience in night racing and also because the drivers are unfamiliar with the Losail track. Our team would continue to be tough competitors," he told reporters yesterday.
"It would be a challenge for all the teams as the engine and tyres of the vehicles will need to adjust to the lower temperatures at night. It is hard to predict a goal for this round but our team is preparing well and should deliver a good result. The team is focused more than ever and ready for a new, exciting and entertaining event.
"The Losail track is better than most I have seen in Europe and experience to night racing will help those drivers keen to move to the higher rungs of the sport like Formula One," he added.
Bonanomi said he would aspire to show the same potential as in the third round in Bahrain and vowed to fight for his first points and even a possible podium finish.
"A night race has different characteristics and will be much more exciting. I am confident particularly due to the good job that our mechanics are doing to prepare the car. I have watched a couple of videos from MotoGP races at the track and that should help me during the event. I will push 100 percent this weekend," he said. "It will be a new challenge for our drivers in the first ever night race of the GP2 Asia Series and we are proud to be amongst the teams that will make it happen," said Raad S Abduljawad, team chairman, Qi-Meritus.Mahara
Trevor Kuna of QuestNet, the sponsors of the Qi-Meritus.Mahara team said that in addition to participation of the team in the series, the company through its corporate social responsibility arm would sell special edition t-shirts to its network of customers from QR 10 up to the generosity of the buyer.
"Proceeds from the effort will be donated to Qatar Charity in support of its relief programmes. We hope to make a positive impact on the local community through such programmes," he said.
Qatar Motor and Motorcycling Federation (QMMF) president Nasser bin Khalifa al-Attiyah said the federation would continue to host new events in Qatar.
"Motorsport brings along with it a good level of competition along with entertainment. I am happy that we are able to cater to the needs of car racing lovers in Qatar. Events like the GP2 Series which are support races for the Formula One will give spectators an opportunity to witness quality teams and drivers and will contribute in the development of the motorsport culture in the country. It will also improve the levels of our local drivers," he said.
Qi-Meritus.Mahara have won 30 of their 34 championships in Asia in the past 12 years, and have employed almost every Asian driver who has reached Formula One since 1998.
As many as 13 teams are competing in the GP2 Asia Series and DAMS is the current leader in the teams' standings with 51 points and Kamui Kobayashi is the championship leader in the drivers' standings after three rounds of action.
The third round of the Speedcar Series will also be staged alongside the GP2 Asia Series with qualifying action beginning tomorrow.
The main races will be held on Saturday.
The schedule: Feb 12: Speedcar: Practice session, 7.00-8.00 pm; GP2 Asia: Qualifying session, 8.30-9.00pm.
Feb 13: GP2 Asia: Race 1, 7.00-8.15 pm; Speedcar: Race 1, 9.40-10.20pm.Feb 14: GP2 Asia: Race 2, 7.00-7.45pm; Speedcar: Race 2, 9.00-9.40pm.
Source: http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/printArticle.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=2...
