ART opens account in Shanghai

Asia Racing Team (ART Motorsports) drivers did an outstanding job this weekend going into the podium in both races of the opening round of 2009 AFR Championship on the Chinese circuit of Shanghai.

Asia Racing Team returnee Benjamin Rouget proved his favourite status by placing his car in 2nd for the first Sunday race having the Indonesian star Rio Haryanto right behind him on the second row. Luis Sa Silva would start from 5th, Luca Ferigutti from 11th and single seaters debutant Suriya Bala from 15th.

Race 1 saw Haryanto and Benjamin Rouget claiming the first podium result of the weekend. Haryanto made the best start when the lights went out to jump ahead of Rouget on the run to the opening corner, and from then on, he was never headed but he too couldn’t catch up the leader. The top three remained unchanged throughout the 10 laps as Rouget was forced to settle for the bottom step of the podium. Sa Silva also lost out one position on the opening lap but the Angolan talent would be able to finish 4th after an off in qualifying. Hong Kong’s Ferigutti had a dramatic start dropping to an unrepresentative 12th as a result. Singapore’s Suriya got the chequered flag in 14th but accomplished his personal mission to finish in single seater debut.

Race 2 saw Haryanto keeping the 2nd place at the start but, despite his efforts, the 16 years old Indonesian ace would never been able to catch up the eventually winner. France’s Rouget lost two positions at the start again but three strong laps were enough for him to get back his 3rd position. Sa Silva came home in 4th after overtaking his team-mate Rouget in the first corner and losing the position on lap 3. Ferigutti had another inauspicious start to finish 12th. The Swiss born would spend the remainder of the race attempting, in vain, to regain his starting position and a spin almost cost him another position. Suriya wound up 14th after one very interesting race fight with former F3 driver Jo Merszei.

At Shanghai International Circuit Rio Haryanto won twice the Asian Drivers trophy, and Asia Racing Team left the Chinese Formula One circuit leading the Team’s standings.

The next 2009 AFR Championship round is on the 11th/12th July at the super technical Beijing Goldenport circuit, a real drivers circuit.

#26 Benjamin Rouget (FRA):

Qualifying: 2th
Race 1: 3th
Race 2: 3th

“I didn’t drive or test for nine months but the start of the championship hasn’t exactly lived up to my expectations! We were very quick in Free Practice but we couldn’t show that in Qualifying. My two race starts weren’t great and cost me two places each. I was able to get back the positions and finish 3rd twice. I can’t be happy with 3rd place as my aim is always to win. I am here to fight and push on.”

#27 Luca Ferigutti (HK):

Qualifying: 14th
Race 1: 12th
Race 2: 12th

“I had difficulties over the entire weekend. I felt I could be much quicker but the times weren’t there. In both races I had a problem at the start and fell to the back of the grid, and from then on I was playing catch up. In the final analysis the outcome was disappointing. I need to keep working hard because I am always very far from the pace in the first couple of laps.”

#34 Luis Sa Silva (ANG):

Qualifying: 5th
Race 1: 4th
Race 2: 4th 

 “It’s been a good event. The team did a good job and my car was OK. We knew the track doesn’t suit the new bodykit cars so it was very hard for me to match the pace of the quickest drivers with old bodykit cars in the straight lines. Anyway I know I’m here to fight for the championship. We need this consistency for the future.”

#55 Suriya Bala (SIN):

Qualifying: 15th
Race 1: 14th
Race 2: 14th 

 “It was a new track and new car for me. It was a training race for me. I got time to get used to the car but the Formula Renault is a lot different from Formula BMW. I managed to finish both races and it was my target for the weekend. My second race was much better than the first one. I had an interesting fight with an opponent but unfortunately the tyres gave up by the end. I will do my best to improve next time”

#56 Rio Haryanto (IND):

Qualifying: 3th
Race 1: 2th
Race 2: 2th 

“It’s a good feeling I am having now. I didn’t drive the Formula Renault for five months and I was on the pace from the beginning. I tried my best to win in both races but Alon Day did a great job this weekend. I let him know that I was there, but he didn’t make the slightest error. I want to thanks my sponsors and Indonesian media for their support.”