More points at the Nürburgring

Racing Engineering scored more points in race two at the Nurburgring when Adam Carroll finished in fifth place after a strong fight with eventual winner Lewis Hamilton left the Ulsterman with a flat spotted tyre and unable to claim a second consecutive podium.

A strong start put Adam up to third on the first lap, and he looked on course to bring home some more silverware for his delighted team, but a long and fierce battle with Hamilton put paid to his plans: defending his position into turn one Adam locked up and damaged his tyre, and he fell back to fifth. Nonetheless he struggled on, and with the car coming back in the latter stages of the race Adam was able to put in some strong times in the final laps. Javier Villa had a torrid race after a problem during the start sequence left the Spaniard on the grid as the lights went out, and he was pushed into the pitlane for his team to look over the car. Unfortunately he lost a lap in the pits, but his strong times once he was back on track show just what could have been but for his problem at the start.

Team principal Alfonso de Orleans was supportive of his driver after race, noting: It was a bit of a pity about Javi – I think if he hadn't got stuck he would have done quite well, because if you look at his times he was always fifth or sixth fastest, so he would have been battling in the points. That's life, I guess. With regards to Adam he had a great race, and I think he probably could have got a podium, but flatspotting that tyre didn't help: at the end of the straight he blocked his tyre battling with Lewis, and these things happen. Still, fifth place from fifth on the grid, so I can't complain too much: we got points, and we're moving up. The team is happy, the cars were strong all weekend, the guys are getting confident, and now we go to Barcelona, which is Javi's breeding ground for racing."

Adam Carroll echoed these comments, stating: Today wasn't bad: I got a good start and moved up to third, and the race panned out from there. I couldn't really go any quicker, and Lewis was coming up strong; I locked up a little bit while he was coming along side me and put me under a little pressure. It took me a few laps to get back into it, but I think we're getting into it and things are starting to go a little bit our way: to come away fifth with everything equal, with the same tyres and everything, shows where we are and it's a big improvement, so hopefully we can keep doing what we're doing and move up a bit in Barcelona."

Javier Villa added afterwards: Today it was not so good: I had some problems with the gears at the start, and there was nothing there, so I had to go to the pitlane to get started. After that the car was better and I could push, and it was even faster than yesterday, so I think it will be even better at the next race. I know the Barcelona track, so that will be good, but there is a really strong level in this championship: I will just try and do my best, and hopefully I can go well."


- Racing Engineering -
photos copyright Gp2 Series