Mortara: I learned from last year

Edoardo Mortara says the experience he gained at Macau last year was vital in helping him to control today's qualification race to secure pole position for Sunday's main event.

The Italian retired from the last season's qualification race when he braked too late for the first corner and wiped himself and Sebastien Buemi out of contention. He had to start Sunday's race from 26th on the grid and could only recover to tenth.

Mortara admitted that his error last year was on his mind today, but that it made him more determined to stay out of trouble.

"It was a big, big thing," he said. "That is why experienced drivers go so well here, and why it is also difficult for the rookie drivers because even if you are fast, like I was last year, you have to understand some things.

"For example, today's race is not that important. Last year I made a silly mistake at the first braking at Lisboa and I crashed the car. I didn't really want to overtake Buemi at the time, but I was surprised by the speed and by all the cars that were around me - so I made a silly mistake. This year it is all different, so I know what is going on and I can react well.

"I know quite well that if you want to win then you have to do a perfect weekend from the beginning. I came here with this idea and I am trying to do my best, so let's see tomorrow if we can do something good. I really hope I can remain in first."

Mortara is now the favourite to win tomorrow's race - especially with the retirement today of polesitter Carlo van Dam, who has been Mortara's closest challenger all week.

But he remains cautious and just wants to concentrate on making another clean start.

"You know, I don't know what happened to Carlo, but we can't forget that (Keisuke) Kunimoto and (Roberto) Streit are quick, and the others are pushing also," said Mortara. "It is going to be difficult if I don't have a good start, because then I will be battling with the others.

"So really, I think tomorrow the main thing is to stay out of trouble, like today. I had a good start and everything worked perfectly because I took the slipstream on the main straight and I could arrive at the braking for Lisboa quite safely.

"If it is like this tomorrow then I think I have a good chance to do a good result. But if I do a bad start and the others overtake me, then it is going to be more difficult."

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