GRAND PRIX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

[jakesanson]

SME:
We have to face facts that we are no longer in a position to challenge for a race win. We are comfortable to go for poits wherever possible, but the Volkswagen engine is clearly still showing problems. We will have to push harder, but it's no secret that our victory in New Zealand is unlikely to be repeated this year.

Transition:
Nonda clearly had too much pressure in this race, and has decided to return to F3000 with the Leyton House team for the remainder of the 2009 season. Elio will be back in the car for France.

Gabriele did a fair job, but he was frustrated to be passed by Leszek on the last lap. Their rivalry is still apparent. We are looking good though for the first Grand Prix around the streets of Paris.

[Hawke]

DRTW

We don't know what the problems are with our cars. We've spend millions in our reliability and still they can't finish a race without a problem. We again will spend 200.000 (50p) in our reliability.

We hope we finally can score again points in Paris.

[jakesanson]

Just so you know folks, the GP2 World Racing League website and forum are getting closer to completion!!!

The forum will be ready in December, whilst the webpage (which will be look a little bit like a real GP racing website) will go live in January!!!

When these go active they will become the new home of the WRL. So please watch this space for more details.

The French Grand Prix will be on Sunday, as we don't have much time to get through the rest of the season!!!

[jakesanson]

LOLA WORLD SERIES
Paris (FRA)

Wow!! Definitely the most exciting race of the Lola World Series 2009 season!!

Only 7 cars made the flag, and an incredible final lap duel between Domonik Waijenberg and local favourite Laurance Papin.

Wheel-to-wheel action the whole way, but it's PAPIN!!

He passes Waijenberg on the very last lap!!

So am amazing and emotional win for Frenchman Laurance Papin, means that the 14th team in the GPWC race will be Vaillante-Renault.

1. Laurance Papin (Vaillante)
2. Domonik Waijenberg (NP Holland)
3. Siso Soldado (Prodan)
4. Kane Palmer (MWM)
5. Oliver Oelschlager (Haddix)
6. Franz Elssler (Zech TNT)
7. Bruno Loeb (Comet)
8. Masami Toyoma (Ssangyong)

PP: Timo Laiti (Nextdrive)
FL: Toyoma

[jakesanson]

GRAND PRIX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
FRENCH GRAND PRIX, Paris

An exciting qualifying session for the first race around the streets of Paris, sees Rickard Alingas grab pole position ahead of Toccacello.

The Minaraes are third and eighth which means this race could be interesting. Special mention should be made about Leuenberger, Sanson, Makki-Ohlson and Huckett, all of whom were expected to do much better.

Performance of the day goes to Grischa Zickler in a very impressive sixth, whilst Vincent Hattenberger and Manu Bastide failed to qualify. LWS race winner Laurance Papin starts 23rd.

QUALIFYING
1. Rickard Alingas (FK Systems)
2. Gabriele Toccacello (Transition)
3. Jorg Mannsperger (Minarae)
4. Elio Lahikkanen (Transition)
5. Sophia Lavaggi (Orchis)
6. Grischa Zickler (SME)
7. Jaime Moreno (DRTW)
8. Mark Rugen (Minarae)
9. Patrik Pafvelsson (FK Systems)
10. Ukyo Okazaki (Orchis)
11. Massimiliano Ariesta (Republica)
12. Timothy MacGibbons (LeRon)
13. Giambattista Regazzi (Cyprus)
14. Maarja Snel (Nordisch)
15. Rick vd Woldenberg (DRTW)
16. Alexis Kamannen (Republica)
17. Leszek Leuenberger (Kraft)
18. Jake Sanson (SME)
19. Bjorn Makki-Ohlson (LeRon)
20. Ryan Miller (FK Junior)
21. Kostas Kafatos (Cyprus)
22. Herbie Huckett (Nagato)
23. Laurance Papin (Vaillante)
24. Yiasoumis Mertakis (Nagato)
25. Nico Weidlinger (FK Junior)
26. Fiete Priet (Nordisch)
DNQ. Vincent Hattenberger (Kraft)
DNQ. Manu Bastide (Vaillante)

[jakesanson]

START:
Alingas beats Toccacello off the line, but now they're side-by-side!! WOAW! They've touched!!

Alingas & Toccacello collide.zip

(647.82 KiB) Downloaded 423 times

That was a close thing!! Toccacello slips to 4th, whilst Alingas remains in the lead.

Lap 2:
Makki-Ohlson's lost it!!

Makki-Ohlson spins.zip

(649.92 KiB) Downloaded 415 times

He's held the spin without damage, so he's lucky to get away with that. Now Papin's lost it!! He's damaged his front wing. WOAW!! Now Weidlinger's gone off!!

Papin & Weidlinger.zip

(838.47 KiB) Downloaded 414 times

The FK Junior driver also escapes damage.

[jakesanson]

Lap 3:
Lavaggi is out!! She's got a blown engine!! The Orchis team will be very disappointed.

Lavaggi out.zip

(196.57 KiB) Downloaded 426 times

Lap 4:
Lahikkanen & Mannsperger are fighting over second place!! And LAHIKKANEN TAKES IT!! That's a brave move!!

Lahikkanen & Mannsperger.zip

(673.84 KiB) Downloaded 411 times

[jakesanson]

Lap 7:
Wild moment!! Pafvelsson slides into Okazaki!!

Pafvelsson.zip

(400.79 KiB) Downloaded 430 times

Both of them got away with that one!

Lap 8:
Mertakis gets badly out of shape!! He nearly took Makki-Ohlson with him!!

These chicanes are creating great entertainment!!

[HF]

Go go go

[jakesanson]

Lap 10:
Regazzi pulls off with a dead transmission, as too does Miller.

Miller.zip

(206.77 KiB) Downloaded 410 times

WOW!! Kamannen's lost it! That's a big crash!!

Kamannen.zip

(624.08 KiB) Downloaded 418 times

Lap 14:
THAT'S MANNSPERGER YET AGAIN!!! The engine's gone!! That Porsche-based Misfire has only lasted 14 laps today!!

Mannsperger.zip

(382 KiB) Downloaded 424 times

[jakesanson]

Lap 19:
Huckett stop out on the circuit, a blown engine whilst in 14th place.

Huckett.zip

(205.42 KiB) Downloaded 400 times

Lap 20:
Alingas & Lahikkanen pit.

Lap 21:
Toccacello pits.

Lap 22:
Rugen pits. Weidlinger is out, with a blown engine.

Weidlinger.zip

(178.29 KiB) Downloaded 385 times

Lap 23:
Zickler, MacGibbons & Kafatos all pit. Toccacello's off!!

Toccacello.zip

(406.32 KiB) Downloaded 392 times

He's getting out of the car!! He could have kept going! That won't please his team!!

[jakesanson]

Lap 25:
Yiasoumis Mertakis is out!! Nagato's day is over!

Mertakis.zip

(203.23 KiB) Downloaded 370 times

At half distance:

1. Alingas
2. Lahikkanen
3. Pafvelsson
4. Rugen
5. Moreno
6. Zickler
7. Okazaki
8. Ariesta

Lap 28:
Makki-Ohlson is out!!

Makki-Ohlson.zip

(334.5 KiB) Downloaded 377 times

Pafvelsson makes his one and only stop.

[jakesanson]

Lap 31:
Leuenberger is out!! The Kraft Porsche has blown its engine!

Leuenberger.zip

(163.13 KiB) Downloaded 316 times

Lap 34:
Lahikkanen, Rugen & Kafatos pit. ZICKLER IS OUT!!!

Zickler.zip

(182.99 KiB) Downloaded 299 times

She was in 4th place, and looking good!! That water leak has ended her race!

Lap 35:
Alingas & Moreno pit. Okazaki is out!!!!

Okazaki.zip

(115.62 KiB) Downloaded 311 times

He would have been fifth!! That's the Orchis team's race all over!!

[jakesanson]

Lap 36:
vd Woldenberg is out with a blown engine!!!

vd Woldenberg.zip

(258.57 KiB) Downloaded 376 times

Lap 37:
RUGEN IS OUT!!!! BOTH MINARAES ARE OUT!!!

Rugen.zip

(286.49 KiB) Downloaded 383 times

It's the first time all season that both of the Minaraes have failed to finish the race!!!

Lap 39:
Ariesta is out!! He was running a brilliant fifth!!!

Ariesta.zip

(214.21 KiB) Downloaded 378 times

[jakesanson]

Lap 41:
Ten to go and Lahikkanen is chasing down Alingas. WOAH!! He's spun it!!

Lahikkanen spins.zip

(780.63 KiB) Downloaded 288 times

Any chance the Finn had of catching the Swede has just gone!! He recovers well, but he's lost a crucial four seconds. Alingas now leads by ten seconds, I don't think Lahikkanen can catch him!

Lap 46:
PAFVELSSON IS OUT!! He was chasing Moreno for 3rd!!

Pafvelsson.zip

(169.17 KiB) Downloaded 296 times

That's bittersweet for the FK Systems team. That loose wheel got the better of him.

Lap 49:
Oh no, that's Laurance Papin!! He was on course for a point!!

Papin.zip

(160.2 KiB) Downloaded 296 times