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Sunday February 22, 2009

Fairuz gets first taste of Kyalami track

PETALING JAYA: A1 Team Malaysia driver Fairuz Fauzy completed his first visit to the historic Kyalami circuit by clocking the 12th fastest time in practice session for the South African leg of the A1GP in Gauteng on Friday.

Fairuz posted 1:32.676 at one of motor racing’s most famous circuit, which hosted Formula One races until the country was hit by political sanctions in the late eighties.

Rookie driver Aaron Lim was the first of the team’s two drivers to go around the circuit and finished 10th fastest in the morning before Fairuz began his preparations.

Aaron completed installation laps and a three-lap run, before handing over the car to Fauzy.

Both drivers voted the track one of the most exciting and challenging that they had ever driven.

The two drivers walked around the 4.26km circuit in the morning and were highly impressed with the challenge it presented.

The team, with a new engine in the car, had to made use of the rookie session for essential installation tasks.

“It is one of the most impressive tracks I’ve ever driven, with the changes in gradient and camber, blind corners, tricky chicanes and just everything.

“We were on the pace right from the start, topping the time-sheets at one point, but cars that went out later in the session ended up with the quickest times.

“For qualifying I think we’ll find more time, and with another practice before that, we have time to develop further,” he said.

Jack Cunningham, chief executive of A1 Team Malaysia added Fairuz was quick right from the start.

“If we can keep improving our pace, as others will too, then we’ll be in good shape for Sunday.”

After four rounds of the championship, Malaysia are currently in seventh position on 31 points while Ireland are on top with a tally of 65 points.

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