Nothing changed in terms of the championship chase for AVF by Adrián Vallés and Tom Dillmann in the first Formula V8 3.5 race at Jerez de la Frontera. Despite a drama-filled run and a contact that sidelined the Frenchman, the driver standings still see him at the top of the table. Starting seventh on the grid for race 1, Dillmann put together a brilliant takeoff, vaulting up to P4 in front of his main championship contender, Louis Deletraz. On lap 16, a contact with the Swiss driver forced him to retire but the stewards promptly reacted by assessing Deletraz a 10” penalty, which dropped him out of the points zone and effectively handed the points lead back to Dillmann. In race 2 tomorrow he will line-up again with 193 points, 11 more than Deletraz. Alfonso Celis also had to retire after a 12th place in qualifying, due to the rising temperatures caused by the grass collected in the sidepods in an off-track excursion.
Tom Dillmann – R1 Retired; Q1 P7
“Qualifying 1 handed me seventh place and it was not what I was expecting. In race 1 I did a good first lap that pushed me up to fourth place, and I passed Deletraz in turn 3. Then I focused on saving tires as I was planning to attack in the second half of the race. Unfortunately when go time arrived, I didn’t have enough speed. Deletraz was still behind me when I saw the stranded car of Cipriani and the marshals with the crane in action. It’s been a very dangerous moment so I slowed down as there were also the yellow flags from the lap before. In turn 9, Deletraz took advantage and got closer, then hit me and forced me to retire. Then the stewards decided to penalize him so nothing changes in terms of the title fight”.
Alfonso Celis – R1 Retired; Q1 P12