If Magny-Cours was to be a first exam for Valentino Rossi, it cannot be said that a great grade has arrived.
The second weekend of the Sprint Cup in the GT World Challenge Europe for the ‘Doctor’ turned out to be more difficult than the eve could have said or predicted.
For once, in fact, the WRT Team driver showed up on a track he had already had the opportunity to know and test with his Audi R8 LMS # 46, but one thing is to work in the tests and another is to find himself in direct confrontation with the rivals.
As always, the goal of the Pesaro was to learn and gain experience, without shooting high and unnecessarily given the level of difficulty of the series.
However, if there were good conditions at Brands Hatch, here from the point of view of the results came a little step back, also the result of a bad mistake in Qualifying 1 which saw Rossi go into a ruinous spin after a handful of laps.
The premature exit from the scene led to the cancellation of what had been his best time from the start of the event so far and the departure from the 22nd box of the grid.
# 46 Team WRT, Audi R8 LMS Evo II: Valentino Rossi
Photo by: SRO
“I had already said that the biggest problem was the sun, because at sunset you have it in your face, but it also reflects on the asphalt”, commented the boy from Tavullia.
“In Free Practice I struggled to understand where I was, whether on a curb or in the right trajectory, precisely because perception was difficult.”
“Anyway we tried to solve it by applying a strip on the visor of the helmet, so that it could protect me a little, this is also new for me”.
“In qualifying I tried to push, but maybe I exaggerated a little too much and made a mistake. The first part of the track is very fast and demanding, I went too far on a curb and unfortunately I lost control”.
“Too bad because it made us finish further behind what was, in my opinion, our potential.”
# 46 Team WRT, Audi R8 LMS Evo II: Valentino Rossi, Frédéric Vervisch
Photo by: SRO
Race 1 saw Rossi start from the rear cautious at first, then put the knife between his teeth and make a couple of overtakes (ask Patryk Krupinski, sent wide to the ‘Lycée’) with determination and then give the wheel to his teammate Frédéric Vervisch to finish 15th. Moreover, having to serve a 10 “penalty at the pit stop for having taken an extra set of tires after the Q1 off-piste.
“In Race 1 we had to try to get a good start and find a good pace to overtake those in front of us, it wasn’t easy.”
“The race itself was not bad, I enjoyed it and managed to engage in some battles by overtaking, increasing the pace lap after lap”.
In Race 2, the start fell to Vervisch, who however found himself stuck in 8th place for a long time without being able to overtake Christian Klien’s McLaren.
The Austrian was very good at defending himself, but also the Belgian could be said that he was not a lion in daring that move that would have given him the opportunity to stretch a lot and give the car to Rossi in a better position.
At Valentino’s turn there were two overtakes suffered and an 11th place that has a slightly bitter aftertaste.
“Race 2 was also tough, even if we managed to start a little further. The goal was the Top 10 and we just missed it, having finished eleventh”.
“I suffered a little too much from the heat, the car became more difficult to drive, then I also lost some time in the fight with the Porsches”, concludes Rossi.
# 46 Team WRT, Audi R8 LMS Evo II: Valentino Rossi, Frédéric Vervisch
Photo by: SRO
Vervisch adds: “Race 1 was difficult because we were starting from the back and then because at the stop we also had to serve a penalty, but the pace was good and Vale showed another great improvement, even making some overtaking”.
“Unfortunately, the start of Race 2 was not that great, even if we didn’t lose positions, but then it’s difficult to overtake here. In the end we didn’t get any points, but it’s part of the game and the important thing was to improve and gain experience.”
‘Fréd’ is however convinced that the path he has taken is the right one, at least in the race, and that things can and should change in timed practice.
“When we both manage to qualify better, I think the Top5 will be achievable.”
# 46 Team WRT, Audi R8 LMS Evo II: Valentino Rossi
Photo by: SRO
WRT Team Principal Vincent Vosse comments: “A little bit of everything happened this weekend, but the car’s performance wasn’t the best. The evolution of Audi takes some time to understand. and that also affects finding the right BoP. “
“It was a more difficult event for Rossi and Vervisch, but after the incident in Q1 there was a good recovery and Vale is constantly improving.”
#GTWC #Rossi #suffered #fighting #rivals
