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Racing
Engineering scores for Spain!
 Racing
Engineering had a good start in the newly created GP2 Series. The
opening race of the championship held this afternoon in Imola saw
Racing Engineering’s Neel Jani in 6th position. The young Swiss
therefore helped Racing Engineering to score the first points for
Spain in the GP2 Series. Both of Racing Engineering’s drivers started
the race from modest positions due to technical problems occurring
on their cars during the Friday sessions. Neel Jani started from
12th and Borja Garcia from 19th position. Both, Neel and Borja,
opted for very early pit stops at the beginning of the race and
half way through the distance of 180km came into the pits for their
second obligatory pit stop. This strategy allowed both Racing Engineering
drivers to continuously improve their positions as the race went
on. Neel finished the race in an excellent 6th position. While both
drivers mentioned serious problems with their brakes, Neel was nevertheless
able to finish the race. His teammate Borja Garcia on the other
hand was not as lucky and spun off the track with just a few laps
to go due to his brakes’ poor performance. Neel Jani after scoring
his first points in the championship stated, “I think for today
it was the maximum we were able to make. It’s not bad to get from
12th position up to 6th, which allows me to start tomorrow’s race
from third position. I suffered with brake problems since for me
is quite bad as I am a driver who very much balances and stabilizes
his car using the brakes. However, the two early pit stops proved
to be the right strategy. After that I simply tried to drive constant
lap times and with some 6 laps to go there was no possibility for
me to improve my position anymore so I didn’t take any risk”. Borja
Garcia after a disappointing race said, “Right after the start the
performance of my brakes became really bad and I had to pump the
brake pedal before entering every corner. The race itself was fine
and I was right behind Neel, who in the end finished in 6th position.
But as the race went on, my problems with the brakes became more
and more apparent and with 6 laps to go I pushed the brake pedal
completely to the floor but there was no reaction from the car.
I spun off the track and couldn’t continue the race. It’s a real
pity as this means I have to start tomorrow’s race from 19th position.
I would like to underline that this is not the team’s fault, but
due to the car. My mechanics are doing a great job and work many
hours, but it’s upsetting if I finish a session after three corners
or my brakes don’t work anymore”.
The
podium was within reach!
Sunday’s
race of the Imola round of the GP2 Series brought mixed emotions
for the Racing Engineering squad. Neel Jani, starting from a promising
3rd position, defended his position on the podium throughout the
main part of the race, but a punctured tyre shortly before the end
kept him from reaching a well deserved place on the podium. Racing
Engineering’s Borja Garcia finished the 17 lap race in 10th position.
Racing Engineering’s Neel Jani started the race from 3rd position
but was overtaken by Carroll, who then went on to win the race,
in lap 3. When Rosberg, running in first position, retired due to
technical problems, the Swiss Racing Engineering driver moved back
into 3rd position. With just a few laps to go, Kovalainen put pressure
on Neel, who defended his position very well. However, Neel suffered
from a punctured tyre and instantly all hopes for a place on the
podium disappeared. After a brave run for most of the race distance,
Neel finished in 15th position. Borja Garcia, who throughout the
weekend suffered from technical problems on his car, started the
race from 18th position. After disappointing sessions on Friday
and Saturday, Borja’s main goal was to finish the race. The Spaniard
made up 8 positions during the 17 lap race and finished in 10th
position. After Sunday’s race Neel Jani said, “It’s a real pity!
The punctured tyre cost me a place on the podium. It was a very
tough race and I was permanently defending my position. Now it’s
important to learn from this weekend and make the right conclusions”.
Borja Garcia at the end of the weekend stated, “At least I finished
this race. The brakes were better than yesterday, but this weekend
started badly for me and I never had the chance to really work on
the set up of the car. I really hope I have more luck at the next
races in Barcelona”.
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