The second round of the International Formula 3000 Championship saw PSM Racingline secure there first top ten finish, with Nicolas Kiesa,  in the teams second event.

QUALIFYING

The qualifying sessions were held in wet conditions on Friday afternoon, with a very brief period at the end of the first session when the track looked like it would be dry enough for slicks. PSM decided to leave both drivers on wet tyres and this proved to be the best decision. Both drivers set their best times in the first session with Nicoals in car 26 securing 6th place with a time of 1:55,381 and Tony in car 27 in 17th with a time of 1:57,807.

Today was very difficult due to the conditions, we made the right decision to use only wet tyres, when some others gambled on dry tyres, and both drivers did very well to qualify with no problems as neither of them have any real experience in the Lola and wet conditions. Nicolas had a very good lap and for a lot of the session was in second, he then dropped back and responded to secure the sixth place. Tony was unlucky as he was not on the track at the quickest time and also had  traffic  on nearly all his laps  – otherwise I am sure he would have been nearer the front. Commented Team Principle Siegfried Mueller. 

RACE

From the start both PSM cars got away well. Nicolas challenged for fifth but was then forced to lift to avoid a collision and was pushed wide in the first chicane, losing momentum he dropped to ninth and then eleventh position. Tony also made an excellent start and was pushing right from the begining gaining several places in the first lap. 

As the race settled down Tony Schmidt was driving a superb race. He gained three positions and was setting quicker and quicker times, looking very good to move further up the field before his race was to finish with a mechanical failure on lap 11 of 31. 

Nicolas lost track position at the start having been pushed wide and then suffering from a lot of understeer in the first segment of the race. As the fuel load came down Nicolas began to set a string of fast laps and would secure PSM’s and his first top ten finish having moved up to 8th by the finish.