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Griever20 · 10-18-2017, 04:40 AM

US GP: Free Practice and Qualifying Report
motorsport-live.com

September 9th, 2017

It has been three long weeks since we last met, and since the European portion of the WMC's schedule ended with a thrilling race in Belgium. And that means that it is time for the US Grand Prix here in Phoenix, where last year, Nina Holtz displayed lots of speed and won in front of Ana Oliveira.

The Championship battle is heating up between Wexler and Chapman, but the Rossini driver needs a result this weekend to keep in touch with the reigning World Champion, and the same thing applies to his team... and then, there is the threat of Lotus Racing mixing things up in the race like they did ever so often this season.

And that became a point of discussion right away when Ellie Marsh, test driver by Lotus, was first in free practice with a 1:02.212 in front of Harry Chapman(1:02.235) and Dieter Wexler(1:02.331)... how fast will this car be with Iker Vidal in? Dan Martinson however dampened expectations, saying that "Ellie was told to use the highest motor mode and to push as we want to challenge her."

Proof or disproof was in the pudding in qualifying as Vidal and Woodford were the first two out there... and that became a thing as Vidal was almost three seconds faster than Marsh in free practice... 59.533! Right behind him was Chapman... and SLOWER! +0.142!

What is Wexler going to do... first intermediate... PINK... -0.040! Sector two... looks fast... IS FAST! -0.410.... now onto the banking and towards start-finish... 58.981! That is 0.552 faster than Vidal! HOLY! Wexler, then Vidal, then Chapman and Lipponen with a surprising fourth.

And out they went for another go! Chapman the first of the frontrunners... slow in sector one... slow in sector two... no improvement. Same story for Wexler... VIDAL +0.011 in sector one compared to Wexler's top lap... but he lost a ton of time in sector two... and qualifying ended a bit anticlimatic as nobody was able to improve.

Wexler, then Vidal and Chapman, Lipponen to round out row two, and Holtz and Rodrigues in row three.

Team Radio of the Day:
"P3 now, Wexler 58.981" "What did his car have for breakfast..."
Harry Chapman, Steinmann Motorsport, during his in lap.

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This is going to be a 36 lap race that should be over rather quickly, and right now I am not really sure which way to go with Iker. Starting on the super soft, which is basically mandatory given that we worked hard for that front row start, the options I see is super soft-> medium -> supersoft, or super soft -> soft -> soft, with the later one already being marginal on tyre life...

As for Woodford, we will once again attempt a 1-stopper with a VERY conservative driving style for him, but the danger of him running into blue flags... not sure if this is a great race for him...

10-18-2017, 04:40 AM	#154
Griever20 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Dortmund, Germany Posts: 3,723	2017 US GP(11/16): Qualifying US GP: Free Practice and Qualifying Report motorsport-live.com September 9th, 2017 It has been three long weeks since we last met, and since the European portion of the WMC's schedule ended with a thrilling race in Belgium. And that means that it is time for the US Grand Prix here in Phoenix, where last year, Nina Holtz displayed lots of speed and won in front of Ana Oliveira. The Championship battle is heating up between Wexler and Chapman, but the Rossini driver needs a result this weekend to keep in touch with the reigning World Champion, and the same thing applies to his team... and then, there is the threat of Lotus Racing mixing things up in the race like they did ever so often this season. And that became a point of discussion right away when Ellie Marsh, test driver by Lotus, was first in free practice with a 1:02.212 in front of Harry Chapman(1:02.235) and Dieter Wexler(1:02.331)... how fast will this car be with Iker Vidal in? Dan Martinson however dampened expectations, saying that "Ellie was told to use the highest motor mode and to push as we want to challenge her." Proof or disproof was in the pudding in qualifying as Vidal and Woodford were the first two out there... and that became a thing as Vidal was almost three seconds faster than Marsh in free practice... 59.533! Right behind him was Chapman... and SLOWER! +0.142! What is Wexler going to do... first intermediate... PINK... -0.040! Sector two... looks fast... IS FAST! -0.410.... now onto the banking and towards start-finish... 58.981! That is 0.552 faster than Vidal! HOLY! Wexler, then Vidal, then Chapman and Lipponen with a surprising fourth. And out they went for another go! Chapman the first of the frontrunners... slow in sector one... slow in sector two... no improvement. Same story for Wexler... VIDAL +0.011 in sector one compared to Wexler's top lap... but he lost a ton of time in sector two... and qualifying ended a bit anticlimatic as nobody was able to improve. Wexler, then Vidal and Chapman, Lipponen to round out row two, and Holtz and Rodrigues in row three. Team Radio of the Day: "P3 now, Wexler 58.981" "What did his car have for breakfast..." Harry Chapman, Steinmann Motorsport, during his in lap. -- This is going to be a 36 lap race that should be over rather quickly, and right now I am not really sure which way to go with Iker. Starting on the super soft, which is basically mandatory given that we worked hard for that front row start, the options I see is super soft-> medium -> supersoft, or super soft -> soft -> soft, with the later one already being marginal on tyre life... As for Woodford, we will once again attempt a 1-stopper with a VERY conservative driving style for him, but the danger of him running into blue flags... not sure if this is a great race for him... __________________ The Montreal Expos... Exposing the New MLB? MLB 2015 - Being the Brewmaster(ended) MLB 2013: The Blue Jays That Never Were(concluded)