Franck Perera showed once again why he is considered one of the very best racing drivers on the American scene, with a truly dominant performance in Sonoma, California.
With an ill-functioning fuel pump late in the 45-minute qualifying session for the Carneros 100, Franck Perera was up against it to put the No. 55 CJ Consulting Guthrie Racing car on the pole.
He had swapped the pole with Raphael Matos three times, but time was running out on the Frenchman competing in his eighth Firestone Indy Lights race. However he pushed the car to its limit on the final lap to earn a truly stunning P1.
"It was a nice lap," he said of the 1-minute, 23.2851-second (99.547 mph) trip around the 2.303-mile, 12-turn Infineon Raceway course. "I think this year I've been pretty good at the end of the session. I'm surprised because even though we were fighting for the pole the whole session, we had a fuel pump problem on the last two laps, but I pushed anyway. When they said I got pole, I couldn't believe it."
It was the second SWE Pole Award for Perera and third front-row start.
With an absolutely faultless display of pace and control Franck Perera led all 30 laps of the Carneros 100 to claim his first Firestone Indy Lights victory, recording the race’s fastest lap in the process.
|
|
“It’s an amazing weekend,” said Perera. “It was a new track again, and we were really good. We managed to beat Raphael (Matos) in the qualifying. He tested here last weekend, so we did great to get pole. We had a good race. The car was consistent, we didn’t have to push it 100 percent. It was good to have a race like that.”
“It’s been a challenging season on and off track,” Franck concluded. “So to get this first Indy Lights victory is fantastic for me and for my managers at CJ Motorsport, who have supported me all the way.”
Starting eighth in race two by virtue of the reverse grid, Perera drove with great patience and intelligence to take the chequered flag in 5th place.
On a track where overtaking is notoriously difficult, the Frenchman executed perfectly on his strategy of watching the Antinucci-Matos battle, taking place just ahead of him, until an opportunity arose. Sure enough, the two title contenders made contact and drove wide on lap 27, leaving Perera an opening on the inside through which he expertly squeezed.
The final race of the season takes place at the Chicago Speedway on September 7th. |
Sevilla FC have signed CJ Driver Borja Garcia for their assault on the inaugural Superleague Formula title.
Borja was unveiled in Seville this week where he and GTA racing team boss Domingo Ochoa met with the Sevilla squad and club President, José María del Nido.
Garcia initially tested the Superleague Formula prototype at the Monteblanco Circuit earlier this year and has driven the Sevilla car at recent tests in Barcelona.
"I am very impressed with the car and really looking forward to the first race," Garcia said.
"This is a big, yet very nimble car and the engine is impressive. It will be a high standard of competition with some top quality drivers.”
“I know that behind me will be the big family of Sevilla fans and I intend to make them proud. For a Spanish driver it’s great to drive for a Spanish club. The final race will be in Jerez, which is not far from Seville. That will be a huge event, the title decider and a major highlight for me." |
|
Sevilla FC President del Nido was delighted to confirm his club’s all-Spanish Superleague Formula assault.
“We wish you the best and hope you will drive the Sevilla car with success,” he said to Garcia. “Do not forget that you have the Sevilla badge on your car and you are driving our dreams of victory”.
Sevilla FC was announced as a Superleague Formula entry in January this year with the club’s car unveiled to the fans prior to a 1-1 draw against Barcelona at home on February 9th.
Sevilla FC will do battle against clubs from England (Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur), Scotland (Rangers), Italy (AC Milan and AS Roma), Portugal (FC Porto), Netherlands (PSV Eindhoven), Germany (Borussia Dortmund), Belgium (RSC Anderlecht), Switzerland (FC Basel), Greece (Olympiacos), Turkey (Galatasaray), UAE (Al Ain), Brazil (Flamengo and Corinthians) and China (Beijing Guoan).
The championship kicks off on August 30/31 at Donington Park. |
CJ Driver Franck Perera underlined his sheer pace and class once again, at the Mid-Ohio 100 Indy Lights weekend, with a P2 in qualifying followed by a second place finish.
After his superb Pole Position at Watkins Glen two weeks ago was spoiled by technical problems in both races, Franck was determined to set the record straight and he certainly did so in emphatic style.
Driving the No. 55 Guthrie Racing car, he stuck with Matos from start to finish, but wasn't able to overtake him, taking the chequered flag a mere 4.2603 seconds behind the Brazilian.
|
|
"This is my first season, so I'm trying to show what I can do on the road courses and learn the ovals," said Perera. "Here we were able to start on the front row. I was keeping close to Matos during the race, but we didn't have any yellows so I couldn't do much more. It's good for the team to finish second."
The next race takes place at the Kentucky Speedway on August 9th. |
