A1GP news

Netherlands rues missed podium

In this morning's Sprintrace Bleekemolen had a good start and immediately managed to move A1 Team Netherlands up to fourth, at Switzerlands expense. The team finished the 15 lap race also in that position, taking three points.

From a fourth grid position Jeroen also had a superb start in the Feature race. Already in the first corner the A1 Team Netherlands driver managed to pass New Zealand and France and moved up to second. At the restart, after a safety car because of a crash between South Africa and Indonesia, Bleekemolen paid attention and immediately opened up a gap with the rest of the field. Together with race leader Germany A1 Team Netherlands went in for the mandatory pitstop. 

There it went wrong for the team. The lollypop went up too early and Bleekemolen hit the rear of the Australian car on exiting. Luckily though there was no damage for A1 Team Netherlands that after the penalty came out on track in sixth. Bleekemolen was able to push a bit behind Portugal in fifth, but overtaking was not possible anymore. A1 Team Netherlands finished the race in sixth, taking five points. With the three points from the Sprintrace added A1 Team Netherlands now has 43 points and is sixth in the championship.

Jeroen Bleekemolen commented, "Lately the starts have been going very well. I now have got the hang of it, especially with the standing start. We were just very quick, especially in the Feature race and able to follow Germany. You must have a perfect weekend to win and this we did not have. Of course we also had the flat tyre which hindered us a bit. I am quite disappointed, because I said beforehand that I came here to win and there was indeed a chance of winning. At least we would have finished second. That's where we belonged. A shame, because we did show that we were quick, but it did not pay off. At the pitstop the board went up and off course I floored the throttle, that is the sign that you are paying attention to. It may be stupid, but it happens. I was glad the car was still going after that and that we were able to get points. You can easily come out in twelfth after a drive through and outside the points."

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