Saturday, May 17, 2008

Alguersuari quickest in Monza practice

Alguersuari quickest in Monza practice

Jaime Alguersuari set the quickest time of this morning's British Formula 3 practice sessions at Monza.

The 18-year-old, hoping to return to winning ways this weekend, edged out his Carlin Motorsport teammate Brendon Hartley by less than a tenth of a second in the quicker of the day's two sessions.

But Alguersuari maintains that a strong grid position is not a given, with qualifying at Monza so dependent on getting a tow on a flying lap.

"Anything can happen yet," he said. "It will come down to who gets a tow at the right time. It's very important but you can't try to arrange with other cars because that just ends up a mess. You have to try to make the most of it when you're out there."

Hartley was pleased to continue his good form, after winning last time out at Croft, ahead of Esteban Guerrieri in the lead Mygale and championship leader Sergio Perez's Honda-powered T-Sport entry.

"Things are going well so far," said Hartley. "The car feels good and I'm confident, so I hope we can continue it in the sessions that really count."

Oliver Turvey and Atte Mustonen completed the top six, ahead of Henry Arundel, who put in one his best performances of the season so far as the highest placed driver not to have raced at Monza before.

"The circuit is an amazing place and I feel I've adapted well to it," said Arundel. "We run a lot less wing here than at most places, which changes the feel of the car slightly, and I've adjusted quite quickly."

Marcus Ericsson, Sam Abay, and Max Chilton, who was fastest in the morning's first session by a clear half a second, completed the top 10.

Pos Driver Team Car Time Gap 1. Jaime Alguersuari Carlin D/M 1:46:385 2. Brendon Hartley Carlin D/M 1:46.471 +0.086 3. Esteban Guerrieri Ultimate M/M 1:46.590 +0.205 4. Max Chilton Hitech D/M 1:46.640 +0.255 5. Sergio Perez T-Sport D/H 1:46.642 +0.257 6. Oliver Turvey Carlin D/M 1:46.723 +0.338 7. Atte Mustonen Double R D/M 1:46.740 +0.355 8. Henry Arundel Double R D/M 1:46.821 +0.436 9. Marcus Ericsson Fortec D/M 1:46.832 +0.447 10. Sam Abay Carlin D/M 1:47.023 +0.638 11. John Martin Double R D/M 1:47.059 +0.674 12. Sebastian Hohenthal Fortec D/M 1:47.064 +0.679 13. Andy Meyrick Carlin (N) D/H 1:47.324 +0.939 14. Matteo Chinosi Ombra (I) D/H 1:47.335 +0.950 15. Michael Devaney Ultimate M/M 1:47.407 +1.022 16. Walter Grubmuller Hitech D/M 1:47.483 +1.098 17. Steven Guerrero T-Sport (N) D/H 1:48.019 +1.634 18. Jay Bridger Fluid (N) D/H 1:48.159 +1.774 19. Viktor Jensen Nexa D/H 1:48.175 +1.790 20. Phillip Major Fortec D/M 1:48.451 +2.066 21. Nick Tandy JTR M/M 1:48.453 +2.068 22. Federico Leo Ombra (I) D/H 1:48.586 +2.201 23. Ricardo Teixeira Ultimate M/M 1:48.637 +2.252 24. Kristhan Einar Carlin (N) D/H 1:49.428 +3.043 25. Stefan Wilson Fluid (N) D/H 1:49.575 +3.190 26. Craig Reiff Nexa (N) D/H 1:50.031 +3.646 27. Hywel Lloyd CF (N) D/H 1:50.052 +3.667 (D/M = Dallara Mercedes, M/M = Mygale Mercedes, D/H = Dallara Mugen-Honda)

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