PaddockSpy-Grand Prix Blog

A1 Team Indonesia finished 13^th in the Sprint race, but retired from the Feature race in Taupo, New Zealand today. The fourth event of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport brought this unique brand of motor racing to the island with thousands gathering to enjoy the spectacle.

Satrio made a good start, overtaking the Chinese car in the opening lap and then benefiting from an incident between Brazil and Great Britain, to lie 16^th at the end of lap one. After all the teams had made their mandatory pitstops, and very quick pitwork from the Indonesian crew, Satrio was lying in 14^th place. The young Indonesian held position for the remaining seven laps to cross the line and finish 14^th. The team was promoted to 13^th place when the Monaco team were penalised for an incident in the Sprint race.

Of the Sprint race Satrio said, “We didn’t have the best start, but it’s quite difficult when the grid is on a bend. On the warm up lap I struggled with traction, so we put more wing on and this helped to give me more grip. Once we were into the lap we were able to make progress and made up ground. The team gave me a very good pitstop although I was a bit slow into the pit box. In the second part of the race we had a good pace”.

In the Feature race Satrio made a good start, quickly passing slower cars to move up to 13^th place. He dropped back one place by the time of the first pitstops but ran in 14^th spot until a small error ended with a spin, dropping the Indonesia team back two places. After the first round of pitstops Satrio was lying in 16^th place and he retained this position until after the second stop. An off course excursion by the Chinese car ahead of him gave Satrio an opportunity to take 15^th place and he stayed in this slot for the mid-part of the race. The Ferrari safety car appeared on track while the marshals removed a stranded Monaco car with 12 laps to go, and after two paced laps the field were released to race again. In the closing stages Satrio was unfortunate to spin at the final chicane with the car coming to a halt on the grass, ending the Indonesian team’s day.

Satrio summed up his Feature race saying, “We had a good start and were up to 13th, but I found it very slippery which was why I spun. In the mid-section we had a better pace, but then I spun out and it was the end of my race.”

Bobby Issazadhe, Team Manager, concluded of the day, “We haven’t had the best of weekends and that is reflected in our results. The car was good and the pace should have been there. I know Satrio is trying hard and gaining more and more experience, so I’d like to see the results we need now.”

The A1GP World Cup of Motorsport moves on to South Africa next month for the fifth event of the season. Kyalami circuit in Johannesburg will host the A1GP Series for the first time, following three successful events at a street circuit in Durban. The A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, Gauteng takes place from 20-22 February.

source: www.a1gp.com