Highs And Lows For Phil Quaife In Monza Gt3 Championship

25 June 2007

Phil Quaife had mixed fortunes in the Monza rounds of the FIA GT3 European championship this weekend. A strong top ten finish in the first race, with Quaife and team mate Tom Ferrier finishing seventh was a high note, with the second race producing disappointment with a retirement from a puncture for the Tech 9 Motorsport team's Porsche GT3 racer. The Monza event was the third of five events on this year's calendar and the Quaife/Ferrier duo were keen to add more team and drivers championship points to their tally which they gained at the last round in Bucharest with a podium finish. The weekend faltered at the start with mechanical issues sidelining the pairing's Porsche 997 GT3 Cup car after only ten minutes of running in the one hour session. The Tech 9 crew worked hard to have the car ready for the second session and with Quaife behind the wheel the team was able to work on car setup and develop this through the practice period. Quaife drove in qualifying for the first race and finished 12th on the grid, although he believed he could have had a better time, but for the yellow flags that slowed him. He said, "I thought we could have been a bit higher in the session. I was all set to do another run but there were quite a few yellow flags on the circuit and I've been caught out with these in the past and lost my lap times for being too quick under yellow, so I played it safe, possibly a bit too safe." The qualifying session for Ferrier was a tough battle with many experienced drivers out on track with him. He put in a strong effort to post 23rd quickest lap for the second race. In the first race Quaife took the start and made positions in the opening corners and was in the thick of the pack as the race got underway. He was hoping to stay on pace with the group but a problem for a Ferrari ahead of him slowed the British racer. Dropping to around 30 mph the only option apart from taking to the gravel, Quaife put on the brakes and lost ground to the pack. Although pushing hard he was never able to gain on those ahead, finally pitting to hand over the car to Ferrier. A quick pitstop, retirements and some strong running from Quaife's team mate improved their position in the final stages, with the Porsche crossing the line in seventh place. The second race was started by Ferrier and he made up ground during the first lap, then started to push hard but as the race reached half distance he suffered a high speed puncture which ended in a trip through the gravel and out of the race. Quaife said of the races, "We had to push hard in these races, as we just didn't have the pace of the front runners - the Corvettes over 20 mph quicker than us. With that sort of differential, it was always going to be difficult for us, particularly with the long straights at Monza. It was good to get in the points in the first race and we aimed to go for more in the second race. Our goal was to be the first Porsche home. In the second race the leading Porsche retired and we were running first, but not for long. Just four laps later we also retired, which was a shame. It's been more useful seat time for me, with Magny Cours Porsche Super Cup race a week away and we did have a good result in the first race, so I'm quite happy." After the Monza rounds Quaife lies in joint tenth place in the Drivers championship standings and joint second in the Porsche Manufacturers Cup, with the Tech 9 Motorsport team in seventh place of the overall Teams championship.