FASTEST LAP NETS PODIUM FOR ADRIAN QUAIFE-HOBBS

FASTEST LAP NETS PODIUM FOR ADRIAN QUAIFE-HOBBS
 
Adrian Quaife-Hobbs secured a podium finish in his first weekend with Motopark Racing Academy in Estoril this weekend, the teenager posting the fastest lap on his way to third place.  The Tonbridge youngster, in only his first season in Formula Renault, used the Portuguese race as a test for his campaign on next season's Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 Championship and the North European Cup.

The BRDC Rising Star kicked off the weekend with the second quickest time in the first dry session on Thursday, just a tenth and a half off the quickest time, and four tenths faster than the third placed runner. In Friday's session Adrian once again showed his potential, topping the time sheets on the damp track.

Later, as the track conditions deteriorated, Adrian slipped down to seventh; leaving the Sackville School pupil delighted with his dry pace and determined to improve on the wet set-up for Saturday's vital qualifying.

“Thursday and Friday morning went really well,” said Adrian.  “We had the pace in the dry conditions and when it was damp, but in the wet we dropped down slightly.  So, in between the test and qualifying, the team did a great job and worked hard on the wet set-up. At the end we were able to make up quite a bit of time, ending up just a few tenths off the fastest.”

In the wet qualifying session, Adrian improved his times to post the fifth and fourth fastest and second fastest laps, to earn himself a third row start for race one second row start for race two.

After a largely uneventful opening race, in which little overtaking opportunities presented and in which he finished fifth, Adrian took up his position for race two, determined to net a podium finish.  A fantastic start allowed the 17 year-old to challenge for the lead going into the first corner, going around the outside of António Félix da Costa before being squeezed out by the Portuguese driver, dropping Adrian to sixth.  However a spirited drive, in which he set the fastest lap of the race, soon moved Adrian back up to third and closing down a six second gap to Kevin Magnussen.

At the half way point Adrian had reduced the lead to three seconds and for the remaining laps, continued to push Magnussen for second. But on drying track, the former double T-Cars champion wisely elected not to challenge for the place, leaving Adrian happy with a podium finish and with his pace.

“I'd closed right up to Magnussen by lap six and was much quicker than everyone else on track.  However we were on a dry line so to overtake would have meant going onto the wet track and I didn't consider it a worthwhile risk, when I was already in a strong third position. Had I been at the front though, I'm sure I could have gone even quicker so I'm very happy with the end result.
“This weekend we showed a lot of pace, particularly in the dry and damp conditions, we just need to continue moving forward to get the right set-up in the wet. We're moving forward all the time though, and improved from seventh to being quickest which puts us in a strong position for next season.”

Adrian will now undergo an intensive four day test programme in Spain in two weeks time which starts with two days at Valencia and two days at Barcelona.

For more info please see www.quaifehobbs.com

For media information or interviews please contact Cathy Metcalfe at the details below. 
 
Cathy Metcalfe
Press Officer 

MPR Associates
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Email: cathymetcalfe@mpr-associates.co.uk