NEWS

FIA GT1 2010: Xavier Maassen Paul Ricard Race Report

This past weekend was the fourth meeting of the FIA GT World Championship on the calendar. After trips to Abu Dhabi Silverstone and Brno, this spring, got the drivers and teams the brand new and very prestigious World Cup the wonderful French site of Paul Ricard.

In the Championship's Race of the French race were Mike Hezemans and Xavier Maassen The dutch duo managed to finish in sixth place in their Mad-Croc Corvette C6.R. "But nevertheless, I can not be happy, we started as a fourth, but race incidents happened for my teammate at several places. Sixth spot is not bad, but if you know that the car was very good, we had a good position and I again such as the recent races have gone to the limit, I can not be happy with eight points towards the World Championship ...", said a visibly disappointed Xavier Maassen.

The timed sessions of the FIA GT World Championshipare the same as in F1, in three sessions, each with eight dropouts. Both Xavier Maassen and Mike Hezemans were very strong in the first and second qualifying heat and so were the Corvette drivers s well as in the last eight teams that could fight for pole. Mike Hezemans who took exercise accounted for and stranded on fourth place, a good result. "But I am convinced that it could have improved. The second place was less than half a second away from us and I was hoping for the front row, because I is the best place for the race! Later during the qualifying race, we try to place as best as possible."

Qualifying Race

In fourth place, Mike Hezemans and Xavier Maassen were hungrier for a better place. "We did not get on the podium, therefore we did not score any points, because only the first three positions allowed for points during the race. It is perhaps my fifth or sixth place fourth in the FIA GT and now. When we are fast and the car is good, then you just want results. "

Championship Race

Of course, the highlight of the weekend's event was the Championship race on Sunday Afternoon. Full points towards the world championship is more than enough motivation for the teams and drivers to push to the limit. "Our ambition was obviously to take fourth place at the start. The 4th place at the start was important, but that did not happen. We could have achieved a better result as we had a very good car and a good strategy, but we missed out and was unlucky. "I got a knock from the Frenchman of Romain Grosjean" commented Maassen's teammate Mike Hezemans. "Mike lost almost fifteen places and was fortunate enough to return to the track and continue." explains Maassen. "Anyway, we'll have to do with eight points, and Spa the aim is simply at winning!"