LOTUS RENAULT GP NEWS:
Bruno: “It’s going to be a big challenge”
It is going to be a big challenge to come back into the middle of the season – or a bit later than the middle of the season – into racing but I have been participating in all the meetings with the engineers so I have been very much up to date with what is going on in the team. The Friday in Hungary was very useful for me to get a feel for the car and get a feel for how the car can go. But, of course, it is going to be a big uphill battle to get up to the level of these guys who have been racing for 11 races now. The fact that it is here, in Spa, is very special. It is my favourite circuit and a circuit that historically I have done very well on so I am really looking forward to it. I hope I can progress fast and hopefully do a good job for these guys because it is the best way to appreciate the opportunity that they are giving me.
PRACTICE 1 - LOTUS RENAULT GP REPORT
Vitaly Petrov, R31-05 P22, 2:13.601, 10 laps
Bruno Senna, R31-01 P23, 2:14.340, 7 laps
Bruno Senna opened his Lotus Renault GP account alongside Vitaly Petrov at the renowned Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.
In damp conditions, both drivers started with the medium compound before switching to inters as weather conditions worsened.
The Brazilian set the session’s 23<SUP class=typo_exposants>rd</SUP> fastest time, completing a lap in 2min 14.340secs when on the intermediate tyres. It was following this that he slid off the track, as his car rear collided with the tyre wall, bringing a premature end to his session.
Meanwhile, his Russian counterpart finished one place ahead of him in 22<SUP class=typo_exposants>nd</SUP>. Vitaly took to the track and set a time of 2min 13.601secs also on the intermediate Pirelli compound.
On the 20<SUP class=typo_exposants>th</SUP> anniversary of his Formula 1 career, veteran Michael Schumacher set the fastest time of 1min 54.355s ahead of team mate Nico Rosberg and Britain’s Jenson Button.
PRACTICE 2 - LOTUS RENAULT GP REPORT
Bruno Senna, R31-01 P17, 1:53.835, 21 laps
Vitaly Petrov, R31-05 P24, 2.2.234, 12 laps
Bruno Senna emerged as the faster Lotus Renault GP race driver after ongoing variable weather conditions at the Spa Francorchamps circuit during the second practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix.
Bruno enjoyed a trouble-free run to set a 1min 53.835secs lap whilst Vitaly Petrov had his session curtailed as the team investigated an issue with the power steering system on his R31.
Bruno ended the day with the 17<SUP class=typo_exposants>th</SUP> fastest time of the session, despite being baulked when the circuit was drying; Vitaly missed out on setting a lap time on dry tyres due to his steering investigation, and ended the session with the 24<SUP class=typo_exposants>th</SUP> fastest time, set on intermediate tyres.
Both drivers used the soft slick Pirelli and the intermediate tyres, Bruno also used the wet tyre during the course of the 90 minutes.
On the eve of his 35<SUP class=typo_exposants>th</SUP> birthday, Mark Webber set the fastest lap time of the session, a 1min 50.321secs, ahead of Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button.
PRACTICE 3 - LOTUS RENAULT GP REPORT
Bruno Senna, R31-01 P9, 2:11.664, 14 laps
Vitaly Petrov, R31-05 P15, 2:13.290, 15 laps
Bruno Senna headed Lotus Renault GP team-mate Vitaly Petrov in Saturday morning’s FP3 session ahead of qualifying at Spa Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix.
Bruno posted a time of 2min 11.664secs in difficult variable wet conditions, using Pirelli’s intermediate tyre. Vitaly posted a 2min 13.290secs using the same rubber specification.
The session start was accompanied by an intensification of rainfall at the Ardennes track, meaning that both of Pirellis rain tyres were used, the full wet followed by the intermediate.
On his 35<SUP class=typo_exposants>th</SUP> birthday, Mark Webber showed his birthday presence with the session’s fastest time, a 2min 08.988secs, heading Lewis Hamilton and Jaime Alguersuari.
