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WORLD SERIES RENAULT 2009 – SPA FRANCORCHAMPS, Qualifying & Race 1

QUALIFYING

Because of his excellent result in Barcelona Sten was out in the first qualifying group for the 20 minute qualifying session for what was to be a very quick 6 six lap dash. With lap times over two minutes there was time for only one flying lap on old tyres before swapping to a new set to make a 4 lap qualifying run.

Sten’s first lap was already quick and his second lap saw him jump to sixth on the timing screens, before a little mistake early in the lap saw him spin and touch the barrier lightly. Unfortunately the officials were quick to show the red flag to stop the session and Stens fastest time was deleted for causing the red flag. With slight damage, no more time and the loss of his best lap, it meant any chance of a good grid position was gone. As a result Sten starts the race 19^th with the intention to gather as much experience as possible for the feature race on Sunday.

RACE

From his low grid position Sten made a very good start and shadowed team mate Fauzy for the first two laps with both shadowing Greg Mansell before passing Fauzy down the outside into the last chicane and moving straight onto Mansell tail. Unfortunately right at this moment Mansell slowed a little and Sten tapped his front wing on the back of Mansells car, damaging the wing.

Unfortunately he had to do a complete, slow lap with the damage wing before pitting for a new wing.

When he rejoined, he quickly settled into a fast rhythm and as in Barcelona, again started doing a string of fast, consistent laps that mirrored and often matched the leaders lap times all the way to the end of the race. Fastest race lap of 2.06.6 was set by second place finisher Bertrand Baguette with Stens fastest lap was within half a second of this despite running completely by himself without the aid of any tow down the long straights.

His fast times and relentless pace meant he recovered from last to 17^th at the end, which puts him in that position on the grid for the Sunday feature race. With the compulsory pit stop and the chance to get Sten some clear track so that he can use his fast race pace to good effect to make up positions and hope for another good result.