Tag: Top Speed

Report: Free Practice 2 Spielberg

Posted on May 18, 2018 by - General

Phil Stratford with his Benetton in the uphill section

11 drivers took part in the second and last free practice session before qualifying (Saturday, 9:40 am). Among others Ingo Gerstl, the fastest of the morning, stayed in the pit.

In dry conditions Johann Ledermair (Ledermair Motorsport) set the best time in the Dallara GP2. Only shortly before the end the US-American Phil Stratford (Penn Elcom Racing) could readjust the order again in his Benetton Formula 1. Stratford had already announced, that he would take it slower today, collecting kilometres was the motto for the runner-up in the championship – he completed 14 laps within the 25 minutes.

Natural spectacle: Armando Mangini on one of the most beautiful race tracks in the world

Natural spectacle: Armando Mangini on one of the most beautiful race tracks in the world

 

Fast again (3rd place, 1:19.8 min), but with difficulties: The Austrian Reinhard Kofler ran only three laps in the second practice session. The Austrian rolled out in the second corner. When rolling out, he crossed the circuit, which can be described as quite precarious. Fortunately, cars and drivers remained safe.

Florian Schnitzenbaumer and Bianca Steiner (both Top Speed) were on tandem flight again around the Red Bull Ring. The two placed 5th and 6th, behind Armando Mangini (1:19.997 min; MM International), who lost one second to Johann Ledermair’s FORMULA best time.

Peter Göllner had some troubles during practice

Peter Göllner had some troubles during practice

 

Like in the first training Peter Göllner had technical difficulties, a long evening awaits the mechanics of Speed Center. Karl-Heinz Becker in the only World Series car was certainly not yet on the limit of vehicle and driver with 1:33.8 min.

The two races will start on Saturday at 3:05 pm and on Sunday at 10:40 am. Admission to the Rundstreckentrophy in Spielberg, Austria is free.

Report: Free Practice 2 Hockenheim

Posted on April 20, 2018 by - General

John Reaks and "Piter" in their World Series cars

Ingo Gerstl (Top Speed) was fastest in his V10-Toro-Rosso for the second time; Florian Schnitzenbaumer was first in FORMULA this afternoon.

The victory in the OPEN class leads – this is to be expected – over BOSS GP champion Ingo Gerstl, also because of the struggeling competitors:

  • Bernd Herndlhofer already had to have his Arrows A22 packed, after yesterday on the day of testing everything was still running smoothly, today nothing worked at all. Troubleshooting will continue at home and another attempt will be made at the second race at the Red Bull Ring (18-20 May).
  • Wolfgang Jaksch is still hopeful to participate in the qualifying tomorrow (10:35 a.m. local time). The Super Aguri Cosworth suffers from heart disease, at least the fuel pump could be brought meanwhile to run.
  • The fourth entered in the OPEN class, Phil Stratford (Penn Elcom Racing), was just ahead of the first FORMULA driver with 1:30.621 min. After he stopped in the morning, the mechanics continue to search for the cause in the afternoon.
Ingo Gerstl fastest in his Toro Rosso

Ingo Gerstl twice fastest in training on Friday at Hockenheim

 

  • With only one interruption, the BOSS GP came through the afternoon session. Bianca Steiner (Top Speed) spun at the branch of the new track, but with the help of the marshals she could continue.
  • The Frenchman “Piter” improved his time by three seconds compared to the morning (1:34.5 min) – despite a performance deficit compared to the GP2-Mecachrome he keeps up well with his World Series Renault.
  • Andreas Fiedler (Fiedler Racing) complained that the track “gives less” than last year. But with 7th place he is right in the middle of the very close FORMULA field. Only two and a half seconds lie between positions 4 and 9. Considering that some were still on the road with old tyres today, the most excitement can be expected here.
  • The fastest FORMULA pilot of the morning Salvatore de Plano (MM International) had to miss the second session. Increased engine oil temperature prevented the car from leaving the pits. Instead, Florian Schnitzenbaumer was fastest in Dallara-GP2, with 1:30.922 he was almost seven seconds behind his team mate Gerstl’s Formula 1.
  • Last, but happy was John Reaks at Speed Center. At 68, the Briton is second oldest in the field and for the first time at Hockenheim: “You learn lap by lap”, he said after the training. The fastest man of the team from Germany was Peter Göllner in 7th place.
  • Karl-Heinz Becker from Germany would also have liked to learn, but the engine did make that impossible. His engineer was contacted in Japan – but so far he could not help by remote control either.

Pictures of today’s practice sessions available here:

Hockenheim Historic 2018

Report: Free Practice 1 Hockenheim

Posted on April 20, 2018 by - General

Salvatore de Plano war schnellster FORMULA-Fahrer

Ingo Gerstl (Top Speed) set the best time in his Toro Rosso STR1, Salvatore de Plano (MM International) in his GP2 was the fastest FORMULA driver.

25 minutes of practice were on the schedule, but some red-flag interruptions shortened the driving time in the first free practice session. Due to the tight schedule, the clock continues to tick even during a red flag.

  • Salvatore de Plano sets the first time under 1 minute 30 seconds. In the end the Italian from MM International was second fastest behind Gerstl, and with 1:29.158 the fastest FORMULA pilot. “One second faster is possible”, last year’s runner-up said after the first practice session.
  • Phil Stratfords Benetton B197 stranded in the middle of the session in the hairpin bend, the mechanics suspect problems with the battery. Previously, he had finished second in the FORMULA classification.
  • H&A Racing and F Xtreme Racing are very busy: Both Wolfgang Jaksch‘s Super Aguri and Bernd Herndlhofer‘s Arrows had to visit the pit after only a few laps due to technical difficulties. Veronika Cicha was the only one in the team who could do a normal training – but she complained about the used tyres.
  • At Top Speed all eyes are on the three rookies: Manfred Loach completed fewer laps than planned, the red flags also stopped him – the Austrian could continue after a spin.
    Bianca Steiner came through the training without a spin, she came 5th in the FORMULA class and is considered an insider tip for the races.
    Debutant Thomas Jakoubek spun in his first lap at the Motodrom, at the end of the penultimate corner. After the engine stalled, the Austrian had to get out and the car was towed away.
  • The Swiss Peter Göllner (Speed Center) spun just after tipping the throttle in the hairpin bend and his GP2-Dallara also had to be towed away. Three minutes before the end, the session was released again after the second interruption.
  • The fastest driver of the morning session was Ingo Gerstl (Top Speed) with 1:22.122 min. His newly revised V10 engine was only tried for the first time yesterday on the race track.