NEWS
29.05.09
Pole and Fastest Lap mark fine Spa weekend
A puncture was the only thing that stood between The Drivers Club’s Simon Dolan and Sam Hancock enjoying a perfect weekend at Spa-Francorchamps in round 2 of the SPEED series.
The pair took pole position and fastest lap by a considerable margin in their Jota Sport-run Ligier JS49, but ended the race in sixth position after losing time following a mid-corner puncture during Dolan’s opening stint that left him stranded in a gravel trap.
Hancock set pole position despite managing only two laps in qualifying. His first lap was a second quicker than anyone else and he lowered that mark further on his next flyer before a track rod failure left him sidelined for the remainder of the session. His best effort was still good enough to leave him over half a second clear at the top of the time sheets.
Dolan started the race and was running strongly in second place throughout a long first stint until the puncture which left him stranded in the gravel at Fagnes. After losing several laps whilst being towed to the pits and undergoing repairs, Hancock assumed the driving duties and climbed back to sixth at the chequered flag, setting a fastest lap time of 2:25.951, over 2.7 seconds quicker than the next best driver.
“That was one of the most enjoyable stints I’ve driven in my entire career,” said Hancock. “The car was fantastic and the team has done a stunning job once again. Pole position and fastest lap is some consolation for the puncture ruining our hopes of victory and Simon took another giant leap forward at yet another track that he’s never even seen before.
“This is just his second year of racing and yet he’s able to mix it at the front with the leaders. The level of competitive pace he is already achieving is very exciting.”
“To race competitively at a legendary circuit like Spa-Francorchamps is an unbelievable experience and one that I could only dream about before joining The Drivers Club,” said Dolan. “I thoroughly enjoyed the race and cannot wait for the next round.”
ENDS
Notes for editors
The Drivers Club, run by world-class Le Mans and Porsche racing team, Jota Sport, offers private, high performance driver training and exclusive driving events to discerning individuals who demand the best of the best. For more information, please visit www.thedriversclub.co.uk.