STRONG SALBRIS SHOW FROM QUINN
A mixed week of weather at Salbris gave all drivers and teams challenging times in testing ahead of the first round of the RGMMC Rotax Euro Challenge.
Alex had an encouraging start from the start of the weekend, picking up pace, gelling well within the CRG Factory Team. In both dry and wet conditions, the package looked a lot stronger for the start of the European Season, quick in both conditions.
Alex was registered in the first out of two groups for Timed Qualifying, which would decide the positions of the 60 registered Junior drivers. Alex was one of the first drivers out on the dry track and quickly settled into the session. With two and a half minutes to go, Alex had topped the leader board with the quickest time, but unfortunately, the pace accelerated and in the last lap he was just not in the correct position to capitalize on the optimal conditions and qualified a very disappointing 21st in the group.
With the second group qualifying results amalgamated, Alex was classified a distant 42nd overall. Whilst debriefing about the session,, it was discovered that Alex had a fault with his chassis which may have contributed to this result. With the fault identified and rectified, all focus was on about salvaging a strong result into the heats.
Intermittent rain began to fall as the weather left many people guessing ahead of the warm up. These conditions suited Alex and he set the fourth fastest time in his session, boding well for the day ahead.
Down to the business of the heats: Alex was to start 22nd, 21st and 21st for his three heats.
In heat one, Alex concentrated on his start to avoid any first corner carnage and fortunately managed to squeeze safely past a spinning driver in front of him. Alex forged ahead in the very short 6 lap heat and secured a 7th place result.
A further 7th place was achieved in the second heat and after a very frantic first few corners of the final heat which left Alex down in 26th at the start, Alex put on a charge to and finish 11th in the 5 remaining laps.
With points from the heats classification, Alex secured a grid position of P9 for the Pre-Final, a strong recovery from the issues of qualifying!
ALEX ROSE AN INCREDIBLE 43 PLACES IN TOTAL FROM HIS STARTING GRID POSITIONS IN HIS HEATS!
Race day arrived on the Easter Sunday along with improved conditions, with dry conditions.
At the beginning of the Pre-Final, Alex had a difficult start, but fought back up the order to secure 10th place ahead of a few of the favorites who lost out on the first lap and finished further down the field. The race was a struggle, with Alex not quite having the pace and set up to achieve to threaten the top 5, but his race craft served him well.
Alex started the Grand Final from Grid 10. Being in the mid pack always raises concerns at the first corner. Alex’s immediate challenge was to get to the inside across the start/finish line, which he achieved, rising up to 7th in the opening moments. Alex showed much improved pace, managed to work his way up to 5th. Alex was now right up with the leading group fighting for the podium as they jostled for position in the remaining laps. Sadly Alex threatened but couldn't quite manage to get ahead of the two drivers and remained 5th at the flag.
Despite the difficult start, having to fight through in all his heats, Alex is 5th overall in the championship.
With the disappointment of Campillos well behind him now, alongside a much improved package helping Alex achieve a positive result in Salbris, Alex is looking forward to the next round where hopefully even more progress will be achieved as Alex alongside CRG aim to top the pile in Rotax Euro Challenge!
"AFTER WHAT HAPPENED AT CAMPILLOS COMPARED TO NOW, WE HAVE MADE A HUGE STEP! NOW WE CAN LOOK TO PODIUMS AND RACE WINS TO CONTINUE OUR CHAMPIONSHIP CHALLENGE"
- ALEX QUINN
BACK TO NEWS
RACE RESULTS
QUALIFYING -42ND
HEAT 1 - 7TH
HEAT 2 - 7TH
HEAT 3 - 11TH
PRE-FINAL - 10TH
FINAL - 5TH
