SPA SOURCE OF DISSAPOINTMENT FOR PATRICK
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, AUGUST 30 2009 – After already having experienced a difficult weekend in Valencia last week, Patrick Huisman’s woes continued at this weekend’s tenth round of the Mobil 1 Porsche Supercup at Spa-Francorchamps. After having qualified in a season low 13th position, the SPS Performance driver could manage no better than finishing in ninth position at the Belgian Grand Prix circuit, his home track. In the driver standings, the Dutch ace dropped one place to fourth position.FREE PRACTICE AND QUALIFYING
With only one week separating the race in Valencia and Spa-Francorchamps, Patrick Huisman and his SPS Performance team barely had time to investigate and improve their below par performance from last week. Even though the 43 year old Dutch driver just missed out on a podium finish, he and his team we’re very much looking ahead to Friday’s free practice in order to make more mileage, identify the problem and solve it. Even though his car felt good, Huisman couldn’t help but finish the day in only tenth position. In qualifying things even turned worse. The four-time champion had to settle for 13th position on Sunday’s grid.
PATRICK HUISMAN: “I’m puzzled once again. It feels our balance is okay, but for an unknown reason the speed simply isn’t there. Last week, we made some dramatically changes overnight, which helped us finishing in fourth position. It looks we have to opt for a same approach here again, which is obviously not ideal. On the positive side however, this tracks offers lots of overtaking opportunities, so hopefully we can make our way forward.”
RACE
Having started from 13th position, Huisman works his way up to tenth position in the first four laps. In contrary to last weekend, all competitors are extremely close to each other, which thrills the 120.000 spectators. Even though Huisman looked to have found a better pace during the race, he has no chance to gain any more positions. Only when René Rast retires in the final stages of the 11-lap race, Huisman is promoted to ninth position.
PATRICK HUISMAN: “A very disappointing weekend, which I’d like to forget as soon as possible. Together with the team, I’m really puzzled on why we’re suddenly not competitive anymore. I was in ‘damage control’ mode all race, trying to make up as many positions as possible, but we simply lacked pace to finish any higher up the ranks. It’s important we trace the problem before the next round in Monza, as I’ve already lost too many points these two races.”
RESULTS ROUND 10 MOBIL 1 PORSCHE SUPERCUP – SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, 30.08.2009
01. Jeroen Bleekemolen (NED), Konrad Motorsport, 11 laps, 27:15.482
02. Norbert Siedler (AUS), Veltins MRS Racing, + 01.531s
03. Jan Seyffarth (GER), To Limit, Seyffarth MS, + 03.895s
09. Patrick Huisman (NED), SPS Performance, + 13.190s