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Home  Home Steep learning curve in Zandvoort
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Steep learning curve in Zandvoort |
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Monday, 14 July 2008 |
 The DTM weekend on the Dutch coast was not easy. Already in the free practice sessions and in qualifying we could see that it was going to be a hard weekend for us 2007 Mercedes C-Class drivers.
In qualifying I didn’t manage to get a perfect lap together and the consequence was P17. The only positive: I was ahead of my team mate Ralf Schumacher. From 17th on the grid it could only go better in the race on Sunday: After a good start, I managed to improve my position by two places and I immediately tried to put pressure on Alexandre Prémat. But unfortunately, overtaking on the track in Zandvoort is particularly difficult. Unfortunately, I could not pass him during the pit stops either.
However, suddenly Prémat was really slow in the last corner coming onto the start and finish straight. Unfortunately I had to lift off with him as I was so close to him, this allowed my team mate Ralf Schumacher to get a run on me and pass me as he was able to take the corner at full speed. At the first corner he locked his wheels and overshot the corner a little which gave me an opportunity to get past him again - but he managed to save his position with a better exit to the corner.
On Lap 21 I was closely following Ralf, as Mathias Lauda came out of the pits after his second stop. He probably did not see me but as I passed him on the outside into turn 1 he hit me on the right rear corner which pitched me into a spin. Until the flag I was able to close the gap to Lauda from 9s to 3s, but the race was over for me: I crossed the finish line in 14th position.
After a learning weekend in Zandvoort where Audi was stronger, I’m now looking forward to the next race at the Nuerburgring. There we should definitely be much more competitive with our Mercedes C-Class. In the Eifel it is traditionally very closely so that the fans can expect a very exciting and balanced race, in which I will be aiming to make it into the points.
Keep Racing
Maro
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