he ninth and last event of 2017 World Series Formula V8 3.5 championship officially started the engines in Bahrain, with plenty of news for the team managed by Adrian Valles, especially about drivers line-up. With Egor Orudzhev absent due to acute angina last night in Moscow, the Russian operation assisted on-track by AVF called compatriot Konstantin Tereschenko to drive. The Russian finished fifth, behind team-mate Matevos Isaakyan (SMP Racing by AVF). Championship leader Pietro Fittipaldi (Lotus) had to settle for P8.
Week-end schedule, as for Spa-Francorchamps and Austin, has been brought one day forward, in order to follow the WEC program, with Collective Test re-scheduled on thursday, and the end of the operations on saturday. Sunday the first three drivers will have the chance to test a FIA WEC car, and Matevos Isaakyan is chasing this opportunity.
Today the track was very hot and dirty during the first round of practice, while the night session, a very first time for the series organized by RPM MKTG, has been pleased by a cooler weather and more grip, same condition that the drivers will face friday afternoon for race 1.
Matevos Isaakyan
«Day didn’t start easy, I wasn’t really happy with the car but we worked hard on it and step by step we moved forward. At the end of the day the situation is pretty good, and we’ll keep improving tomorrow and try everything to win»
Konstantin Tereschenko
«I felt really good with the new team, the atmosphere is really good, and I feel really comfortable with them. Thanks to SMP Racing for choosing me. It wasn’t my first night time drive, as I drove already in Abu Dhabi, and the feeling with this car is great».
Henrique Chaves
«It's great to drive for the first time this car. I'm ok with the team, as we knew already since Eurocup. From my side I still have to improve a bit, but the reference time with my teammates is not far and I’m happy for that. I have to say that drive in the night is amazing and tomorrow will be a fantastic challenge».