Performance yes, results no for Ocean in Monza
Press release
GP2 Series - Monza
Race 2
13th of September 2009
Performance yes, results no for Ocean Racing Technology in Monza
The Italian weekend did not have a good outcome for Ocean Racing Technology. Extremely competitive in the wet (feature race) as well as in the dry (sprint race), GP2 Main Series' Portuguese team missed out on securing any real success after being unable to transform its potential into solid results.
Following the same example as race one, the second Monza event ended in disillusionment for Álvaro Parente. After starting 11th on the grid, the Spa-Francorchamps winner had a strong start and was making his way up into the points when he lost control of his single-seater into braking for Rettifilo and was forced to retire. At the time of his exit, Parente was as fast as the leader, and was on the verge of securing 6th place. "I was having an excellent race and was systematically gaining places on each lap," Parente explained, "but I spun trying to get past 6th place, Giedo Van der Garde, and it was the end of my race. I regret this conclusion to a disappointing weekend but we have to put it behind us and focus on the races we will have in front of our home crowd next weekend."
Meanwhile, starting down in 19th position for the sprint race, teammate Karun Chandhok finished twelfth. "It was not an easy race. To start among the last cars will always make your life harder because you have to be twice as cautious at the start and when you overtake somebody. The weekend was tough but I think everything will be better in Portugal for the season finale."
The season finale of the GP2 Main Series will take place next week on the Portimão circuit in Portugal.
GP2 Series - Monza
Race 2
13th of September 2009
Performance yes, results no for Ocean Racing Technology in Monza
The Italian weekend did not have a good outcome for Ocean Racing Technology. Extremely competitive in the wet (feature race) as well as in the dry (sprint race), GP2 Main Series' Portuguese team missed out on securing any real success after being unable to transform its potential into solid results.
Following the same example as race one, the second Monza event ended in disillusionment for Álvaro Parente. After starting 11th on the grid, the Spa-Francorchamps winner had a strong start and was making his way up into the points when he lost control of his single-seater into braking for Rettifilo and was forced to retire. At the time of his exit, Parente was as fast as the leader, and was on the verge of securing 6th place. "I was having an excellent race and was systematically gaining places on each lap," Parente explained, "but I spun trying to get past 6th place, Giedo Van der Garde, and it was the end of my race. I regret this conclusion to a disappointing weekend but we have to put it behind us and focus on the races we will have in front of our home crowd next weekend."
Meanwhile, starting down in 19th position for the sprint race, teammate Karun Chandhok finished twelfth. "It was not an easy race. To start among the last cars will always make your life harder because you have to be twice as cautious at the start and when you overtake somebody. The weekend was tough but I think everything will be better in Portugal for the season finale."
The season finale of the GP2 Main Series will take place next week on the Portimão circuit in Portugal.
Monza blows hot and cold for Ocean Racing Techno
Press release
GP2 Series - Monza
Race 1
12th of September 2009
Monza blows hot and cold for Ocean Racing Technology
The first race of the GP2 Main Series on the Monza circuit today saw a very unusual event with the sudden arrival of rain on the formation lap which forced the race to begin under safety car conditions.
Starting 17th on the grid, Álvaro Parente faced the adversities head on, driving an exceptional race on a damp track and working his way up to third place. Unfortunately, two penalties saw him drop back to seventh then 11th place by the time he eventually crossed the line. The first penalty was handed out for short cutting the circuit on three occasions during the first lap, the second for speeding in pitlane during his compulsory stop.
Álvaro had succeeded in drawing perfection from his single-seater and winning all his on track battles, but the end result left him with a bitter taste in his mouth because instead of securing well deserved points and starting on the 1st row of the grid for race two, he is forced to start from row 6 with no points to his name from the opening race. "It was a tough race because of the atmospheric conditions, but a great one in terms of performance," the Portuguese driver analyses. "I was 3rd and I was closing the gap with the leaders when I was handed a drive through penalty for cutting the chicane three times because of aquaplaning against which I had no control. I lost a lot of positions and the podium was not on the cards anymore, but 7th position was a promising quantum of solace for the second race. However, the 25 second penalty I was handed after the race made me fall back to 11th position. The last penalty was two really because without the last safety car neutralisation I would have lost only one position. There is still the satisfaction of having an excellent race but on the other hand the result is frustrating."
19th at the start, teammate Karun Chandhok saw his race compromised by leaves, which due to the pouring rain, had fallen from the trees overhanging the track. They made their way into his radiator air intake and made the Indian's engine temperature climb dangerously high, forcing him to pit so that the team could clean them out. As the pit stop was carried out behind the safety car, Karun was forced to set out again in last place... "After that I had a drive through penalty and I had to push really hard to make up for lost ground. But the track was damp and it made things harder. In the last stage of the race I had an off track excursion and I had to retire. It was not a good day for me and the second race will be hard too."
The second race will be broadcasted on the Eurosport chain on Sunday at 9:30 am.
GP2 Series - Monza
Race 1
12th of September 2009
Monza blows hot and cold for Ocean Racing Technology
The first race of the GP2 Main Series on the Monza circuit today saw a very unusual event with the sudden arrival of rain on the formation lap which forced the race to begin under safety car conditions.
Starting 17th on the grid, Álvaro Parente faced the adversities head on, driving an exceptional race on a damp track and working his way up to third place. Unfortunately, two penalties saw him drop back to seventh then 11th place by the time he eventually crossed the line. The first penalty was handed out for short cutting the circuit on three occasions during the first lap, the second for speeding in pitlane during his compulsory stop.
Álvaro had succeeded in drawing perfection from his single-seater and winning all his on track battles, but the end result left him with a bitter taste in his mouth because instead of securing well deserved points and starting on the 1st row of the grid for race two, he is forced to start from row 6 with no points to his name from the opening race. "It was a tough race because of the atmospheric conditions, but a great one in terms of performance," the Portuguese driver analyses. "I was 3rd and I was closing the gap with the leaders when I was handed a drive through penalty for cutting the chicane three times because of aquaplaning against which I had no control. I lost a lot of positions and the podium was not on the cards anymore, but 7th position was a promising quantum of solace for the second race. However, the 25 second penalty I was handed after the race made me fall back to 11th position. The last penalty was two really because without the last safety car neutralisation I would have lost only one position. There is still the satisfaction of having an excellent race but on the other hand the result is frustrating."
19th at the start, teammate Karun Chandhok saw his race compromised by leaves, which due to the pouring rain, had fallen from the trees overhanging the track. They made their way into his radiator air intake and made the Indian's engine temperature climb dangerously high, forcing him to pit so that the team could clean them out. As the pit stop was carried out behind the safety car, Karun was forced to set out again in last place... "After that I had a drive through penalty and I had to push really hard to make up for lost ground. But the track was damp and it made things harder. In the last stage of the race I had an off track excursion and I had to retire. It was not a good day for me and the second race will be hard too."
The second race will be broadcasted on the Eurosport chain on Sunday at 9:30 am.
Monza misfortune for Ocean Racing Technology
Press release
GP2 Series - Monza
Qualification
11th of Setember 2009
Monza misfortune for Ocean Racing Technology
The Monza weekend is not shaping up to be a repeat of Ocean Racing Technology's recent good fortune when, after an excellent run at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit two weeks ago where they secured their maiden victory in the GP2 Main Series, the Portuguese team suffered at the hands of bad luck on the Monza circuit during qualifying for the penultimate round of the 2009 season. Álvaro Parente will start from 17th on the grid while teammate and Karun Chandhok will line up in 20th.
The day started badly in free practice with Álvaro Parente having an off track moment in the intimidating Parabolica after just four laps and was therefore unable to set his car up properly for qualifying. "The off track excursion set things up for the rest of the day," Parente said. "With a far from perfect car and with so close lap times between all the drivers, I was unable to do any better in qualifying. My mission will be a tough one, but not impossible, and I'll give it my best to make up as many positions as possible."
Forced to start from the tenth row of the grid for the first race, Karun Chandhok is also preparing himself for a tough fight... "To start that far down on the grid, my race will be a tough one. I'm not happy with the way things happened but tomorrow I will have to catch up and to try to climb up in order to be in a good position for the second race. It is not the first time I have had to start from the back of the field and I have already made my way back to the top 10," Chandhok explains.
For the directors of Ocean Racing Technology, Tiago Monteiro and Jose Guedes, the disappointment of Monza qualifying is a reflection on the quality of the field in the GP2 Main Series. "There are 18 drivers in the same second and as soon as one of them has a mishap he falls to the bottom of the starting grid. Everything can happen during the race itself, but the first thing we have to do is come out of the first turn in one piece."
Ocean Racing Technology is now prepares for a difficult weekend but they won't give up. The start of race one will take place on Saturday at 15:00.