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Bathurst 1000 Qualifying Report
Bathurst has heard the roar of Formula One engines, and smelled the
rubber of the first qualifying session.
A total of 16 drivers have come to the circuit, and all of them kept
a close eye on the free practice time sheet early on. Only 4 drivers took
to the circuit for free practice. Pace setters were Gjermund Higraff(LFRS)
and Dominik Binz(LFRS) laping 0.051s of each other. Ferther 4s on was car
of Vlad Myrsikov(gp2champ) followed by Floyd Zimmer(gp2champ) 0.4s behind.
With practice over all eyes were now set on qualifying.
Setting early pace were cars of Vlad Myrsikov(LFRS) and Gabriel Garivaldis(LFRS)
the former had grabed pole on 5minute mark of qualifying. Soon out on the
track was TGI car of Dominik Binz(LFRS), who quickly toped the qualifying
sheet taking pole and coming into the pits for the second time on lap 8
at 12 minute mark. Soon out was the lonely Marico car of Carlos Prieto(gp2champ).
He had a terrible couple of laps, way slower then the pole time and he
came into to the pits on 20 minute mark disapointed with the car's performance.
Soon out on the track were cars of Gjermund Higraff(LFRS) and Floyd Zimmer(gp2champ).
Gjermund hameged to snap pole with a good time of 1.47.647, and Floyd ended
up 4.8s slower. On the 45 minute mark 12 cars were on the track trying
to outdo each other, but the defenete pace cetteres were Gjermund Higraff
and Dominik Binz laping 2s faster then their nearest rival. In some instances
a bit too fast, which means that Organiser will keep a close eye on the
cars and the drivers all thoughout the qualifying and the race. Nitrex
car was on pole and Dominik came out for his last attemps on 58minute mark.
He was faster then Gjermund in first and in second sectors by 0.3s, but
then, in the third sector something happened, the car slowed, and as it
turned out later on it was a worn plank. Nitrex car was on pole followed
by 3 TGI cars, Team Italia, and Vlad Myrsikov's Marico car completed the
top 6. In total, only 12 drivers out of 16 have completed the qualifying.
Final standings: http://www.oocities.org/teammarico/bathurst1000/Q1.html
All drivers found cars very difficult, but at the same time very fun
to drive (success for ograniser!!!). There were wheels locking everywhere,
a lot of spins, and one major crash at the end of the second stright which
involved one of the TGI cars that was driven by Gabriel Garivaldis, which
caused the session to be stoped for 10 minutes until the debree has been
cleared.
Now all teams and drivers have exactly 2 days before they go out on
the circuit again, trying to beat each other again in the second qualifying
session. Agragate times will deside the starting grid for the race, but
as one of the drivers has said already:"It'll be a long race"
Vlad.
Event Organiser.
Mark to retire
After recent speculations, in J Magazine, that Mark Goodchild will
be the future manager of Marico, have became undone after he has officially
announced (through maricotalk), that he will retire at the end of the season.
Mark said that he simply had enough: two years of tough racing, constantly
being number two in the team. "Eddie Irvine had enough at Ferrari, I had
enough racing gp2. I still like the occasional competition, I love the
team, but I don't want to be part of gp2champ next season.". "I believe
Mark has done an excellent job. I believe there's only handful of people
in the league that can beat me, not mentioning staying on pace with me."-
Vlad. The retirement of Mark Goodchild leaves an empty seat in F3, possibly
car with #2 on it. The fact is that team manager has already offered position
to a couple of talents in gp2league who hopefully would love to wear the
new colors of Marico.
Vlad announces his future
It seems like it's been a long time since the team made a press release
saying that it's #1 driver will not be participating in the next year's
gp2championship. It seems even longer that he's been deciding on it ever
since. "Will he, or won't he" -that famous quote used on Damon Hill can
as well be used on Vlad. "My decision mainly comes from what I feel like
at the time. I don't hide it, I was totally sick from gp2. I seriously
couldn't stand it anymore. The only thing that kept me in was the fact
that I started winning again. After I won a couple of races and got a couple
of fastest laps I relaxed. At the moment I'm not yet sure how I feel. I
definitely want more responsibility with my team, and at the same time
trying to integrate Marico into LFRS. I volunteered myself into gp2champ
administration. Some why however I want less gp2 itself." "Anyway, going
back to the question that I've been asked. I've decided that I will stay
and race on. From what I've seen so far [on proposed race distance changes]
I can confidently say that I will race, next year.
Future doesn't sparkle for Marico
The Current OTC leaders, Marico seems far away away from all the trouble
other teams are in, but according to the inside information the future
is not as bright for the team as it may appear. It seems that the team
struggles to find a good, consistent and fast drivers who can carry on
the tradition set out by their predecessors. After Mark's retiering, there
are still 5 drivers in the team who are under question. In all devisions,
but F1. That is why Marico will be putting their best effort in the last
race, all the drivers. "I believe that it'll be my last chance to prove
myself. Winning OTC is not only about the actual fact that your team is
better then any other, it also a prove that what you did this whole season
was right. The fact that you've chosen the right drivers, the right cars,
basically the whole package, is what makes it so special. I remember saying,
before the start of the season, to Richard, that this year Jordan GP2 will
be the best team.. He didn't believe me. The actual fact is that we're
ahead of the best, we're, even if it's only for a moment, better then the
best. If Marico finished second in OTC I'll be dissapointed-that's my nature,
but the actual fast is that there's nothing to be disapointed about, Marico
is the strongest team in gp2champ, and it's the drivers that make it so
strong, it's the communication and willingness or all drivers to help eachother.
That's why I believe that there won't be another year that will see un
on the top step of the OTC ladder. I do know that we'll be competitive,
but I don't hink we'll ever be this competitive ever again." "My hope for
next year is that I'll have more drivers, besides myself winning races
and being on the poddium. I'm hoping that I can build a better team, but
it's a pretty hard task. How do you build on the best??? How can you clime
or then Everest?
As seen from this interview, team owner is very possimistic about his
chanses of being successful in 2000/2001 season.
Marico News archive issue 1:
23/04/99 - 04/06/99
Marico News archive issue 2:
04/06/99 - 27/07/99
Marico News archive issue 3:
27/07/99 - 09/10/99
Marico News archive issue 4:
09/10/99 - 29/02/00 |