FORMULA BMW UK CHAMPIONSHIP

Published on 23 April 2007

QUAIFE-HOBBS SECURES FIRST POLE

Tonbridge teenager Adrian Quaife-Hobbs took his first Formula BMW pole position at Rockingham yesterday, but sadly problems left him unable to convert that into his maiden win in the race which took place at the Northamptonshire circuit today. A poor start dropped him down to fifth as the pack filed into turn 1 for the first time, and a broken gearbox bracket cost him dearly.

As the race neared completion, the 16 year-old BRDC Rising Star, then found his car stuck in fifth gear, losing him places and he finished in 11th place.

“A gearbox bracket broke, meaning that I was missing gears on the way down the ‘box, which in turn meant I was running wide into several of the corners. On the last lap it eventually got stuck in fifth gear, so I lost a handful of places on that lap alone as I struggled to get round. So this caused me to miss out of a good result after taking pole position.”

Race two saw Adrian line-up fifth and with new components fitted between the two races, the MSA British Race Elite candidate was hopeful of a better result. But, with limited time between the two races, which support the prestigious Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Adrian was unable to make all the necessary set-up changes to his car and he struggled during the race, although he finished a fighting fifth.

“The team did a fantastic job to repair the components between the two races and we got to the grid with just minutes to spare. I was unable to get close to Jonathan Legris in the corners so I was never able to make a challenge. I'm still happy with taking fifth and more points, after struggling in the first race.”

The former BRSCC T-Cars Champion was overall happy with his performance, his second only event in single-seaters, “I can take away the fact that I took pole for the first race, so I know I've got the pace. I should have taken pole for the second race too, but I brought my tyres in early in the qualifying session and then the red flag came out and I had nothing left when we continued again afterwards.”

Adrian now has a two-week break before the next rounds of the championship, at Thruxton circuit in Hampshire, on the weekend of May 5/6 where he aims to go for victory.

Results - Round 3 - 19 Laps

1. Josef Kral Double R Racing 27:22.607

2. Henry Surtees Carlin Motorsport 27:23.715

3. Henry Arundel Fortec Motorsport 27:27.131

4. Marcus Ericsson Fortec Motorsport 27:27.442

5. Daniel McKenzie Fortec Motorsport 27:27.996

6. Kimiya Sato Nexa Racing 27.28.501

11. Adrian Quaife-Hobbs Fortec Motorsport 27:36.167

Fastest Lap: Henry Surtees 1m 20.978s, 86.63mph, 139.42kph

Results - Round 4 - 16 Laps

1. Josef Kral Double R Racing 21:53.024

2. Henry Arundel Fortec Motorsport 21:57.041