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The
Coca-Cola Nordic Racing Team dominated the qualifying sessions for the third
round of the FIA F3000 International Championship at the Circuit de Catalunya in
Spain.
Coca-Cola
Nordic Racing drivers Justin Wilson and Tomas Enge gave the team its maiden
front-row lockdown, Wilson claiming the pole with Enge second.
Justin
Wilson grabbed the pole position from the opening lap of the first session and
such was his performance that he held it with ease for both 45- minute periods
to take his first F3000 career pole. At the end of the second session the only
driver that looked capable of equalling his time was team-mate Tomas Enge, who
claimed second place on the grid, a mere 0.022 seconds behind Justin.
“I knew
that I had to take pole here if I was to keep my championship hopes alive,”
said Justin. “After Imola where I finished sixth I knew that the very least I
could do today would be to take the pole. Now I must aim to make the most of my
grid position in the race tomorrow and convert that pole into a race win, with
the ten championship points that go with it. The car felt great all through both
sessions, although we did make some small changes in order to cope with the
bumpy circuit and I am looking forward to giving Coca-Cola a one-two race win to
go with today’s qualifying result.”
Team Manager
Chris Mower said: “This has been a good days work by both Justin and Tomas and
it is a great shame that only one can take pole as they both deserved it today.
We knew that this kind of result would be possible here as long as the drivers
made the most of their tyres from the word go. Justin did as we planned as our
data showed that last year the tyres were at their best early in the session and
with very similar weather conditions as last year, everything went as we had
hoped today.”
Tomas Enge
finished the second qualifying session as fastest driver, with the combined
times giving him second on the grid. Said Tomas: “The car was very good today
and it is a great tribute to the Coca-Cola Nordic Racing team that both Justin
and I were able to secure a one-two in qualifying. My car was feeling better and
better as the session wore on and I am pretty confident that I could have been
challenging Justin for the pole had we not run out of time. Still, it is great
to be starting from the front of the grid tomorrow and I am sure that both
Justin and I will provide a very exciting race to watch.”