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ANOTHER FIA GT PODIUM CEMENTS SIMONSEN IN CHAMPIONSHIP
20 May 2008
Three weeks ago Allan Simonsen stood on the podium
at Italy's famous Monza circuit after winning the
GT2 class of the 2008 Le Mans Series event. It was
brilliant sunshine and the crowds turned up.
 Fast
forward to last Sunday and there was Allan, once again,
on the Monza podium. This time the stakes were more
serious as was the ugly weather. And the crowds returned.
So did the Dane, grabbing his second chance to spray
the champagne in as many meetings.
Paired with Austrian Phillip Peter aboard the Gigawave
Motorsport Aston Martin DBR-9 GT1, Simonsen was keen
to capitalise on their 3rd place at the opening Silverstone
round.
Practice was extermely wet but still the team made
excellent progress putting the Aston Martin in P3
during the first session, following with a P5 in P2.
Qualifying was a tricky affair. "There was a dry
line appearing for the GT2 cars, said Allan recalling
qualifying. "They only had 20 mins but by then it
had drizzled on the back of the circuit and it was
tricky approaching the second chicane. It was patchy
all around the track and a few cars got caught out
and ended in the wall.
The track however continued to dry... "I was sure
the fastest time would be done on the last lap. But
I couldn't get a clear lap and the double yellows
were out so we had to settle for 7th. I don't think
its a true representation of our car speed but thats
where we are.
Seventh in Q was like a red rag to a bull for Simonsen,
who prompty silenced everyone with the fastest warm
up time, in terrible conditions. Allan started the
race, making an awesome getaway, splitting the field.
At the end of lap two he was 3rd and catching Christophe
Bouchut in the Corvette C6R. Simonsen was really trying...
"After about 15 minutes I caught Bouchut and passed
him into turn 1. I really felt like it was a good
passing move. Then I set off after the leader but
things got a bit untidy. At the end of the back straight
I was coming into the Parabolica and had to pass at
GT2 Porsche. As I went inside him for the turn he
also switched position forcing me to the outside but
because I was so close to him I suddenly lost downforce
and run a touch wide. I think a wheel got on the grass
and with weather like this thats a no-no. Suddenly
I'm accelerating like you do on wet grass and there
are rocks and gravel going everywhere!
Simonsen suddenly found himself summoning up the
very same skills he'd used to win Rally Tasmania last
year... "I kept the car in a long slide and ended
up touching the tyres only slightly and there was
virtually no damage." Being aware of just how wet
things were, off track, Simonsen kept the momentum
up, rejoining the race with almost no penalty. Shortly
he would pit and hand over to Phillip Peter, who would
drive an exceptional middle stint.
After the second compulsory pitstop, Simonsen climbed
back onboard, returning to hunt down the second placed
car only to be called in for a drive through penalty.
Allegedly, an earthing strap was not used, at the
last refuelling stop. Like Silverstone, Peter and
Simonsen finished third. The entire Gigawave team
was jubilant having shown such excellent team work,
car speed and racecraft over the weekend. Both Simonsen
and Peter are now equal second in the chmapionship
with 12 points.
Next FIA GT round is Adria - 50km outside of Venice,
June 20-22
But there's no rest for the wicked. Its back to the
UK for a British GT round at Rockingham this weekend.
And then comes Le Mans 24 Hour testing...
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