Porsche Supercup 2008 - Races 1 & 2 # Bahrain

Racetrack records Bahrain

Bahrain (BAH)
Length: 5.441 km 12 Laps = 65.292 km
Record PMSC Uwe Alzen (GER) 2:05.611 min. 12.03.2006

Bahrain Sakhir Circuit

Since the year 2005 the Porsche Supercup is a guest in the Middle East. Within a few month a new, very modern track with five possible layout-combinations was build in Bahrain from the german architect Hermann Thielke in 2004.

The variation used in the Supercup with five left bends and seven right bends is very challenging and the high temperatures in the desert makes it even more difficult for teams and drivers.


Winners on this track

Year - Pole Position - Pole Time - Winner - Fastest Lap Time
2007 - Damien Faulkner (IRL) - 2:05.281 - Uwe Alzen (GER) - Damien Faulkner (IRL) 2:06.328
2007 - Uwe Alzen (GER) - 2:05.244 - Damien Faulkner (IRL) - Damien Faulkner (IRL) 2:05.987
2006 - D. Saelens (BEL) - 2:03.864 - U. Alzen (GER) - U. Alzen (GER) 2:05.611
2005 - R. Westbrook (GBR) - 2:04.269 - R. Westbrook (GBR) - R. Westbrook (GBR) 2:05.650

A Lap of Bahrain Onboard with Patrick Huisman in Bahrain.

The Bahrain-Circuit is a relatively fast and wide route. The layout looks quite simply on the first gaze, but that's a false impression. In the comparison with European racetracks the 5.4 km long track is that quite challenging and exactly that makes it attractive for the drivers. You have to think a lot and not only step on the throttle. At Above all one should think about where you can push and where you should drive rather reserved in order to prepare for the next turn.


Turn 1
The long straight to turn 1 is virtually ideal in order to drive in the slipstream of another car. Since the route is very wide, you can prepare to overtake there very well. Turn 1 is a type of hairpin-bend that is driven in the second gear. It is very important to catch clean exit form turn 1, to accelerate in a straight line to the next curves.

Turn 2 and 3
The left-right-combination must be considered a one curve. If you didn't get a clean exit on Turn 1 you will have not even a problem but also on the next curve.

Turn 4
The way to turn 4 is uphill and is important to keep the momentum, specially for a relatively heavy driver as I am. The brakes will be used in fifth gear just 100m before the turn. In the entrance is quite narrow, the exit opens however. Its not an ideal place to overtake on the brakes because you need to maintain the speed for the following passage.

Turn 5, 6, 7
Through you are accelerating full throttle in order to approach the next parts with the right speed. Changing back into third gear to turn into the right bend, you change up in the fourth gear immediately in the following left-turn and accelerate full heading Turn 8.

Turn 8
This is a key-position of the track. You easily ruin your lap at this point! The curve is technically very selective and going downhill, the wheels can block very easily. You generally are inclined to brake little too late. The passage is very slippery, it hardly builds grip over the weekend. The exit is quite crucial again.

Turn 9 and 10
Also this position is - similarly like some other positions on the track - has to be seen as one section. This curve, hanging outside down, is driven in forth gear and brakes are going on just before turn 9.
Then a hard step on the brakes and back into second gear is required for turn 10. This curve is another key-position, to much attack on the input will be punished at the output of the corner.

Turn 11 and 12
We are approaching with fifth gear to this uphill-passage. The entrance is done with the third gear and afterwards I accelerate up to fifth gear to do Turn 12 absolutely flat. When the change-gear-lamp illuminates just before turn 13, it was done truly good. Passing is impossible here!

Turn 13
Turn 13 can be compared with turn 8 and 9. It goes clearly downhill and in order to do the following straight right, you have to break early enough for having a good exit. You can lose a lot here, if you are late on the brakes!

Turn 14
This again is a combination that has to be seen as one unit. It has only one gear-change-point. Since it is followed by a straight of almost one kilometre, again it is important to brake sufficiently early and carry as much motion as possible onto the straight.

I was there today for the first practice sessions, sadly Ferrari faster than Mclaren all day. I was in the stand on the back straight, used to be called Oasis, now batelco. Hamilton crashed right opposite us, ran wide on turn 6, went over the rumble strip with too much power on turn 7 and went straight into the wall next to turn 8. If you see it on the TV the sand in the run off area did ***** all. Nice day out though, going again tomorrow and race day.

Max

Sean Edwards 7th in Free Prastice

Porsche SUPERCUP. free practice Bahrain 1 03.04.2008

Results 1. free practice Bahrain 1 03.04.2008

Pos. Car no. Driver Team Training time Gap
1 20 Faulkner, Damien SAS-Lechner Racing 2:04.831 + 0:00.000
2 2 Rosina, Stefan Lechner Racing Bahrain 2:05.262 + 0:00.431
3 10 Bleekemolen, Jeroen Jetstream Motorsport 2:05.574 + 0:00.743
4 21 Watts, Danny SAS-Lechner Racing 2:05.584 + 0:00.753
5 5 Alzen, Uwe SPS automotive-performance 2:05.590 + 0:00.759
6 14 Rast, René VELTINS MRS Racing 2:05.804 + 0:00.973
7 22 Edwards, Sean Konrad Motorsport 2:05.850 + 0:01.019
8 26 Saelens, David IRWIN Racing 2:05.859 + 0:01.028
9 25 van Lagen, Jaap DAMAC Kadach Racing 2:06.039 + 0:01.208
10 27 Huisman, Patrick IRWIN Racing 2:06.079 + 0:01.248
11 17 Janak, Jiri Schnabl Engineering 2:06.102 + 0:01.271
12 7 Bleekemolen, Sebastiaan Bleekemolen Race Planet 2:06.243 + 0:01.412
13 3 Armindo, Nicolas tolimit 2:06.249 + 0:01.418
14 24 Mamerow, Chris DAMAC Kadach Racing 2:06.326 + 0:01.495
15 16 O'Young, Darryl Schnabl Engineering 2:06.349 + 0:01.518
16 23 Seyffarth, Jan Konrad Motorsport 2:06.598 + 0:01.767
17 1 Zampedri, Alessandro Lechner Racing Bahrain 2:06.654 + 0:01.823
18 18 Frederiks, Simon HSF Porsche Eindhoven 2:06.807 + 0:01.976
19 11 Petiz, Pedro Racing Team Jetstream 2:06.841 + 0:02.010
20 9 Guerrero, Lucas Jetstream Motorsport 2:06.886 + 0:02.055
21 19 van Splunteren, Paul HSF Porsche Eindhoven 2:07.253 + 0:02.422
22 15 Siedler, Norbert VELTINS MRS Racing 2:07.332 + 0:02.501
23 4 Mangs, Jocke tolimit 2:07.684 + 0:02.853
24 8 Buijs, Tim Bleekemolen Race Planet 2:07.988 + 0:03.157
25 12 Nunez, Alejandro Racing Team Jetstream 2:08.060 + 0:03.229
26 6 Dagilis, Nemunas SPS automotive-performance 2:12.485 + 0:07.654

A three-driver's competition – The free practice

Damien Faulkner needed exactly three laps to make everything clear in the free practice session in Bahrain. The runner-up of the last year with a clear lead of more than 0.4 seconds considerable undercut the last year's pole-time. Strong performance also by his team mate Stefan Rosina on second position in front of Jeroen Bleekemolen, who was third.

Everything was already done at 17.09 pm, when Faulkner returns from the circuit into the pitlane after a convincing lap. Like it is written down in the motorsports schoolbook he warmed up his tyres, drove a perfect flying lap and than came in again to change the brake pads to run them in after it all. 'On the rubber of the Formula 1 and the GP2 series you have to be quick at the beginning of the session, which I already managed in my third lap", Faulkner explains. 'For our team that's the best motivation for the qualifying session tomorrow. After my fast lap – what by the way was done with a lot of fuel on board – I run in a new set of brake pads for tomorrow."

The strong appearance of the Lechner team was completed with the second rank of Stefan Rosina. 'I didn't expect to be so far up the list" the Oxford student says. 'I am surprised a little but of course I am very happy. That's typical with Walter Lechner and his team; without him all this good things would be impossible." And the Lechner team even puts one above it all with the young Brit Danny Watts being the best of the eight Supercup rookies on rank four. "Am I am really fourth?", he asks, "I have only been able to drive four quick laps after I had to stop with a problem. We could not run through our programm at all. Nevertheless, I am very happy about fourth position."

Being sandwiched by the Lechner drivers, the Netherlander Jeroen Bleekemolen feels confident. 'It's ok, isn't it", he comments his third position. 'It is three years ago since the last time I was in Bahrain and moreover I never drove a Porsche here. Under these circumstances my result is satisfying. Our setup isn't at the point where it should be, I am confident that we can improve tomorrow", Bleekemolen appears battlesome.

With Uwe Alzen on fifth position followed by René Rast, Sean Edwards, David Saelens, Jaap van Lagen und Patrick Huisman the top-10 of the free practice session completes. The qualifying for the first two rounds of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup will take place on Saturday from 8.45 to 9.05am local time (7.45 to 8.05am MESZ).

Yeah a pretty good start, cheers guys The track is seriously hard to get right though, a few high speed braking zones and mega technical parts too... It took me a bit longer to learn then I expected...

The Lechner teams (Faulkner, Watts, Rosina ect) are based here, so they test all the time and know the track well!

My fastest lap is quali tomorrow will be nulled, as I had a green sector under a yellow flag, so that is the penalty! I had bedded in my brake pads, 3 slow laps and then gone for one fast lap, saw the yellow flag, slowed down more than enough, but because my laps before were slow, the sector was still my fastest and the scruitineers don't give any lienience

Anyway, hope quali goes well!

Good luck Sean, just about the whole Brit expat community is cheering for you, looking forward to the races. :thumbs:

Max

Max Bowler said:

Good luck Sean, just about the whole Brit expat community is cheering for you, looking forward to the races. :thumbs:

Max

Click to expand...

Ditto to that.

Will be Watching Eurosport UK at 10.30am (Virgin Media channel 521) for the live race 1 coverage :thumb:

Watching out for Car #22

Results qualifying Bahrain 1 04.04.2008
Pos. - Team - Car no. - Driver - Qualifying time - Gap
1 VELTINS MRS Racing 14 GER Rast, René 02:04.4 + 0:00.000
2 SAS-Lechner Racing 20 IRL Faulkner, Damien 02:04.4 + 0:00.069
3 Jetstream Motorsport 10 NED Bleekemolen, Jeroen 02:04.7 + 0:00.332
4 SAS-Lechner Racing 21 GBR Watts, Danny 02:04.8 + 0:00.435
5 DAMAC Kadach Racing 24 GER Mamerow, Chris 02:04.8 + 0:00.438
6 Konrad Motorsport 23 GER Seyffarth, Jan 02:04.8 + 0:00.476
7 tolimit 3 FRA Armindo, Nicolas 02:04.9 + 0:00.505
8 SPS automotive-performance 5 GER Alzen, Uwe 02:04.9 + 0:00.515
9 Schnabl Engineering 17 CZE Janak, Jiri 02:05.0 + 0:00.606
10 Lechner Racing Bahrain 2 SVK Rosina, Stefan 02:05.1 + 0:00.721
11 DAMAC Kadach Racing 25 NED van Lagen, Jaap 02:05.3 + 0:00.938
12 Lechner Racing Bahrain 1 ITA Zampedri, Alessandro 02:05.4 + 0:00.989
13 Bleekemolen Race Planet 7 NED Bleekemolen, Sebastiaan 02:05.4 + 0:01.015
14 IRWIN Racing 26 BEL Saelens, David 02:05.4 + 0:01.016
15 Schnabl Engineering 16 HKG O'Young, Darryl 02:05.4 + 0:01.028
16 IRWIN Racing 27 NED Huisman, Patrick 02:05.5 + 0:01.098
17 Konrad Motorsport 22 GBR Edwards, Sean 02:05.5 + 0:01.157
18 VELTINS MRS Racing 15 AUT Siedler, Norbert 02:05.7 + 0:01.300
19 tolimit 4 SWE Mangs, Jocke 02:05.9 + 0:01.511
20 Racing Team Jetstream 11 POR Petiz, Pedro 02:06.1 + 0:01.684
21 Jetstream Motorsport 9 ESP Guerrero, Lucas 02:06.1 + 0:01.768
22 Bleekemolen Race Planet 8 NED Buijs, Tim 02:06.3 + 0:01.922
23 HSF Porsche Eindhoven 19 NED van Splunteren, Paul 02:06.6 + 0:02.177
24 Racing Team Jetstream 12 ESP Nunez, Alejandro 02:07.0 + 0:02.620
25 HSF Porsche Eindhoven 18 NED Frederiks, Simon 02:07.7 + 0:03.353
26 SPS automotive-performance 6 LIT Dagilis, Nemunas 02:11.1 + 0:06.714

Solid 1st race from Sean :thumb:


Race 1 results Porsche Supercup Bahrain 05.04.2008
Pos. - Team - Car no. - Driver / Competitor - Laps - Time - Gap - km/h - Fastest lap
1 SAS-Lechner Racing 20 IRL Faulkner, Damien 12 25:23.0 + 0:00.000 154.339 02:06.0
2 Jetstream Motorsport 10 NED Bleekemolen, Jeroen 12 25:31.0 + 0:08.083 153.524 02:06.4
3 Konrad Motorsport 23 GER Seyffarth, Jan 12 25:31.2 + 0:08.242 153.508 02:06.5
4 DAMAC Kadach Racing 24 GER Mamerow, Chris 12 25:31.6 + 0:08.657 153.467 02:06.4
5 IRWIN Racing 26 BEL Saelens, David 12 25:37.0 + 0:14.034 152.93 02:05.9
6 SAS-Lechner Racing 21 GBR Watts, Danny 12 25:39.1 + 0:16.126 152.722 02:06.3
7 IRWIN Racing 27 NED Huisman, Patrick 12 25:43.3 + 0:20.364 152.303 02:06.8
8 SPS automotive-performance 5 GER Alzen, Uwe 12 25:43.4 + 0:20.399 152.299 02:06.1
9 Schnabl Engineering 17 CZE Janak, Jiri 12 25:43.5 + 0:20.507 152.289 02:06.4
10 DAMAC Kadach Racing 25 NED van Lagen, Jaap 12 25:43.8 + 0:20.855 152.254 02:06.3
11 Lechner Racing Bahrain 1 ITA Zampedri, Alessandro 12 25:43.8 + 0:20.872 152.253 02:07.2
12 Bleekemolen Race Planet 7 NED Bleekemolen, Sebastiaan 12 25:44.1 + 0:21.151 152.225 02:06.9
13 Konrad Motorsport 22 GBR Edwards, Sean 12 25:45.3 + 0:22.343 152.108 02:06.8
14 HSF Porsche Eindhoven 19 NED van Splunteren, Paul 12 25:49.5 + 0:26.549 151.695 02:07.8
15 Racing Team Jetstream 12 ESP Nunez, Alejandro 12 25:54.1 + 0:31.132 151.247 02:07.5
16 Jetstream Motorsport 9 ESP Guerrero, Lucas 12 25:54.4 + 0:31.407 151.221 02:08.0
17 VELTINS MRS Racing 15 AUT Siedler, Norbert 12 25:55.5 + 0:32.550 151.11 02:07.1
18 tolimit 3 FRA Armindo, Nicolas 12 25:58.1 + 0:35.140 150.858 02:06.4
19 tolimit 4 SWE Mangs, Jocke 12 25:58.3 + 0:35.335 150.839 02:07.9
20 HSF Porsche Eindhoven 18 NED Frederiks, Simon 12 25:59.3 + 0:36.300 150.746 02:07.7
21 Bleekemolen Race Planet 8 NED Buijs, Tim 12 26:11.0 + 0:48.005 149.623 02:07.9
22 SPS automotive-performance 6 LIT Dagilis, Nemunas 12 26:35.7 + 1:12.706 147.307 02:10.3
23 Lechner Racing Bahrain 2 SVK Rosina, Stefan 11 23:42.1 + 1 Lap 151.506 02:06.1
24 Racing Team Jetstream 11 POR Petiz, Pedro 10 21:32.7 + 2 Laps 151.524 02:07.1
25 Schnabl Engineering 16 HKG O'Young, Darryl 6 12:52.9 + 6 Laps 152.064 02:06.5
26 VELTINS MRS Racing 14 GER Rast, René 0 n/a. n/a. n/a n/a

Well done Sean. Within a gnat's of Patrick Huisman in qualifying and 4 places improvement in the race, is mightily impressive in that company.

Seems strange not seeing the name Richard Westbrook this year - rather got used to that over the past few years.

Well done Sean, making up places from the grid is definitely something to be proud of especially in such a short race with closely matched cars :thumbs:

Thanks all

Quali was ***** yes, having my fastest time taken away was really bad! Saleens held me up really badly for 2 laps on my first tyre run, so it was effectively screwed... So my second tyre run I could only do two laps, a 5.1 and a 5.5. The 5.1 was taken away because of yesterday, so I was left with a 5.5 for my first race and a 6.0 for the second, hence p17 and p19... Should have been P10 and P11 normally, even with Saleens screwing me up. On pace I could have been in the top 6, but he qualifying will come with experience.

The race was always going to be hard, as quali is so important. My first standing start in 3 years, but got a good one and went from p17 to p11 on lap 1!! On lap 2 I ran slightly wide and Zanpedri got to the outside for the quick right hander, I didn't yield and he turned in, hit him quite hard and he went sideways off the track. Problem was, I damaged the suspension and damper and the steering wheel was off at an angle, so for the rest of the race I had a huge amount of turn in oversteer. It was really hard to pass people, but I got 13th in the end, which is pretty good anyway.

Start P19 tomorrow, so again going to be hard work, but I am looking forward to it, mega racing in this championship!

Great work fella, did you across the sands a few times but to come back up the field with all that was excellent.:thumbs:

1st lap, cars were 4 to 6 abreast ! and not sure how everyone got through the tight turns 2/3 on the 1st lap.

A good run for both Konrad cars in race 1, looking forward to race 2.

Solid result for Faulkner, I bet he's NOT missing Westbrook !