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Closed Circuit: Dragon Racing in London

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Dragon Racing struggled in London, with two disappointing qualifying sessions making the race difficult, and an issue with Loic Duval’s gear box costing him a finish in race one. Penalties for other drivers in race two unexpectedly promoted Jerome d’Ambrosio onto the podium.

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Both Dragon drivers were caught out in the wet qualifying session on Saturday morning, putting them out of position for the first race of the weekend. From there, it was an uphill battle, with both drivers trying to make up places whilst conserving energy.

Loic Duval managed to get into the points when a gearbox issue meant he would have to retire from the race. Replacing the damaged gear box would prove costly, and put him at the back of the grid for the Sunday race. Team mate Jerome d’Ambrosio was able to cross the line in ninth, and was promoted a place after Nick Heidfeld was given a 50 second penalty post race.

Whilst Duval started at the back of the grid, d’Ambrosio was starting tenth. It was a steady climb up through the field for both drivers. Energy management proved critical and, though they both crossed the line in the middle of the top ten, penalties for three other drivers promoted d’Ambrosio to a surprising third, and Duval an impressive fourth.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Team mate comparison: qualifying” tab_id=”1461512175704-af49c202-f1e45043-b572853b-7c50f109-5ffa”][vc_line_chart type=”line” style=”modern” x_values=”Beijing; Putrajaya; Punta del Este; Buenos Aires; Mexico City; Long Beach; Paris; Berlin; London 1; London 2″ values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Loic%20Duval%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%228%3B%203%3B%202%3B%2012%3B%207%3B%2016%3B%2016%3B%209%3B%209%3B%2018%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Jerome%20d’Ambrosio%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2210%3B%207%3B%201%3B%2010%3B%201%3B%209%3B%2011%3B%2018%3B%2011%3B%2010%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22green%22%2C%22custom_color%22%3A%22%23f7be68%22%7D%5D” title=”Team mate comparison: qualifying”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Team mate comparison: race” tab_id=”1461512175763-831c2584-42cf5043-b572853b-7c50f109-5ffa”][vc_line_chart type=”line” style=”modern” x_values=”Beijing; Putrajaya; Punta del Este; Buenos Aires; Mexico City; Long Beach; Paris; Berlin; London 1; London 2″ values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Loic%20Duval%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%224%3B%2016%3B%204%3B%206%3B%204%3B%208%3B%2018%3B%2018%3B%2016%3B%204%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Jerome%20d’Ambrosio%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%225%3B%2014%3B%203%3B%2016%3B%201%3B%207%3B%2011%3B%2016%3B%208%3B%203%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22green%22%2C%22custom_color%22%3A%22%23f7be68%22%7D%5D” title=”Team mate comparison: race”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”The team says: “…“” tab_id=”1461512258191-0360a250-a68c5043-b572853b-7c50f109-5ffa”][vc_column_text]

Saturday:

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Jay Penske, team owner: “I am pleased that we secured another points finish today, but we have shown that we have the potential to achieve considerably more. With both our cars running in the only rain-affected qualifying session, we suffered more than most and were subsequently limited in what we could achieve in the race.
“We will assess the damage to Loic’s car overnight and will be pushing hard for a podium tomorrow.”
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[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Championship standings” tab_id=”1461512214611-352b21f1-c5375043-b572853b-7c50f109-5ffa”][vc_line_chart type=”line” x_values=”Beijing; Putrajaya; Punta del Este; Buenos Aires; Mexico City; Long Beach; Paris; Berlin; London 1; London 2″ values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Dragon%20Racing%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2222%3B%2022%3B%2052%3B%2062%3B%20102%3B%20112%3B%20112%3B%20112%3B%20116%3B%20143%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22green%22%7D%5D” title=”Championship standings”][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Loic Duval” color=”green”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_tta_accordion style=”outline” color=”green” c_icon=”chevron” active_section=”1″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Duval’s race in words” tab_id=”1461512310664-cbeb96df-4af05043-b572853b-7c50f109-5ffa”][vc_column_text]

Duval started Saturday’s race in ninth after a wet qualifying session meant he couldn’t manage the pace Dragon had been seeing in the practice sessions. From there, it was going to be a difficult race on the track that is notoriously difficult to overtake on.

The Frenchman struggled to make up places, battling against Heidfeld at the bottom end of the top ten. Retirements ahead of him had promoted Duval up to seventh when an issue with the gear box ended his race.

Replacing the gear box meant Duval was forced to start the second race of the weekend from the back of the grid. It was a slow climb up through the field for Duval, who made up places at a steady pace, eventually crossing the line in seventh. Energy management proved crucial in Sunday’s race and, with three drivers ahead of him running out of energy before the crossed the finish line, Duval was promoted to fourth after the race.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Lap chart” tab_id=”1461512310716-c8bf2e2d-dbb95043-b572853b-7c50f109-5ffa”][vc_line_chart type=”line” x_values=”Starting position; 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23; 24; 25; 26; 27; 28; 29; 30; 31; 32; 33″ values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Saturday%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%229%3B%207%3B%207%3B%208%3B%208%3B%208%3B%208%3B%208%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%205%3B%209%3B%2010%3B%209%3B%207%3B%207%3B%207%3B%207%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Sunday%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2218%3B%2017%3B%2016%3B%2015%3B%2014%3B%2014%3B%2014%3B%2012%3B%2012%3B%2012%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%209%3B%209%3B%208%3B%208%3B%208%3B%208%3B%208%3B%208%3B%208%3B%208%3B%207%3B%207%3B%207%3B%207%3B%207%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22green%22%7D%5D” title=”Duval: lap chart”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”The race in numbers – Saturday” tab_id=”1461512375203-dc62694e-d0395043-b572853b-7c50f109-5ffa”][vc_column_text]

Best time in FP1: 1:25.683.

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Best time in FP2: 1:23.410.

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Best time in qualifying: 1:35.315.

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Best time in the race: 1:29.439.

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Pit stop time and difference to minimum pit stop time: 70.8s (0.8s gap).

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Best time in FP1: 1:25.460.

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Best time in qualifying: 1:23.938.

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Best time in the race: 1:27.301.

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Pit stop time and difference to minimum pit stop time: 71.5s (1.5s gap).

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Saturday:

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“The car felt strong today from the very first session and I was managing my energy well during the race – we had the capacity to run an extra lap than those ahead of us and make up places. Today’s retirement with a gearbox issue is a real shame after our performance so far this weekend.”[/pullquote]

Sunday:

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“From last – following the penalty for changing the gear box – to fourth! Delighted with this last round of the season where we finished on the bottom of the podium. We drove a good race, a lot of overtaking manoeuvres, we were competitive whilst managing to save energy. A big thank you to all of the team.”[/pullquote]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Championship standings” tab_id=”1461513704972-abbca216-e1a55043-b572853b-7c50f109-5ffa”][vc_line_chart type=”line” x_values=”Beijing; Putrajaya; Punta del Este; Buenos Aires; Mexico City; Long Beach; Paris; Berlin; London 1; London 2″ values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Loic%20Duval%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2212%3B%2012%3B%2024%3B%2032%3B%2044%3B%2048%3B%2048%3B%2048%3B%2048%3B%2060%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%5D” title=”Championship standings”][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Jerome d’Ambrosio” color=”green”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_tta_accordion style=”outline” color=”green” active_section=”1″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”D’Ambrosio’s race in words” tab_id=”1461512547855-b3644413-70595043-b572853b-7c50f109-5ffa”][vc_column_text]

D’Ambrosio was also caught in the rain during qualifying for race one, putting him eleventh for the start of the race. It was a difficult thirty three laps for the Belgian, who hovered just outside the top ten for the majority of the race, close behind Mahindra’s Nick Heidfeld.

Due mostly to retirements higher up in the standings, d’Ambrosio made it to ninth in the closing stages of the race, still stuck behind Heidfeld, but a penalty for the German driver allowed the single Dragon finished to get past him post-race, and d’Ambrosio was classified eighth.

Sunday’s qualifying took place in the dry, but d’Ambrosio couldn’t do much better than his Saturday position, starting race two in tenth. The Belgian wasn’t quite able to benefit from the leaders’ collision as others had, only making up a single place due to the accident. It was a slow climb for d’Ambrosio, who was involved in a number of collisions throughout the race and damaged his rear wing at one point. Still, the Belgian was able to continue, and crossed the line in sixth.

That wasn’t the end of the race, though, with a number of drivers ahead of d’Ambrosio handed penalties for running out of energy. D’Ambrosio himself was right on the limit, but managed to save just enough to cross the line. He was promoted to third after the penalties, taking Dragon’s only podium of the weekend.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Lap chart” tab_id=”1461512548457-fc72c98b-1a615043-b572853b-7c50f109-5ffa”][vc_line_chart type=”line” x_values=”Starting position; 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23; 24; 25; 26; 27; 28; 29; 30; 31; 32; 33″ values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Saturday%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2211%3B%2012%3B%2012%3B%2012%3B%2012%3B%2012%3B%2012%3B%2012%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2017%3B13%3B%2012%3B%2013%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22green%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Sunday%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2210%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%208%3B%208%3B%208%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%208%3B%208%3B%207%3B%207%3B%207%3B%207%3B%207%3B%207%3B%207%3B%207%3B%206%3B%206%3B%206%3B%206%3B%206%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%5D” title=”D’Ambrosio: lap chart”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”The race in numbers – Saturday” tab_id=”1461512549057-0abe4d02-33bc5043-b572853b-7c50f109-5ffa”][vc_column_text]

Best time in FP1: 1:26.735.

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Best time in FP2: 1:24.849.

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Best time in qualifying: 1:35.727.

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Best time in the race: 1:28.247.

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Pit stop time and difference to minimum pit stop time: 73.2s (3.2s gap).

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Best time in FP1: 1:25.491.

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Best time in qualifying: 1:23.952.

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Best time in the race: 1:27.488.

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Pit stop time and difference to minimum pit stop time: 71.2s (1.2s gap).

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Saturday:

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Unfortunately we were very unlucky with the weather today. Energy is a big challenge here and with limited overtaking opportunities on this track, our qualifying determined our race result.
“However, we have a very competitive car with a good set-up that has the potential to challenge for a podium, and we will be pushing to show our true speed tomorrow.”[/pullquote]

Sunday:

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”We had a good car but we were still struggling in the second part of the season, after two poles earlier on. We started ninth and it was a bit messy at the start. I was around ninth or tenth. I tried to go longer in the first half. In the end Robin, or someone, crashed into me during the race. I don’t remember which one did the damage on the rear wing. We went to pit, and then came back out. It’s really tricky because this track is tough on energy so it’s so tempting to go and get that position but then you consume more and you somehow believe you’re going to manage it towards the end of the race and I think three of them didn’t. I crossed the line with zero point zero something something also so it was really on the edge. I was very happy to finish on a high.” [/pullquote]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Championship standings” tab_id=”1461513723518-ee223709-f56c5043-b572853b-7c50f109-5ffa”][vc_line_chart type=”line” x_values=”Beijing; Putrajaya; Punta del Este; Buenos Aires; Mexico City; Long Beach; Paris; Berlin; London 1; London 2″ values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Jerome%20d’Ambrosio%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2210%3B%2010%3B%2028%3B%2030%3B%2058%3B%2064%3B%2064%3B%2064%3B%2068%3B%2083%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22green%22%7D%5D” title=”Championship standings”][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

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Images courtesy of Rajan Jangda

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