I.S.R. hampered by difficult qualifying on Moscow Day 3

After bagging ten points in yesterday’s Race 1 thanks to a great performance from Jazeman Jaafar, ISR had to endure a difficult final day of F.Renault 3.5 running in Moscow. On the track located 100 kilometers west of the Russian capital, in the Volokolamsk region, the Czech team owned by Igor Salaquarda took the flag in 12th place, just shy of a points finish, after a race that was heavily influenced by a difficult qualifying.

In the morning session, despite being provided a competitive car, Jaafar couldn’t make the most of its potential due to traffic issues created by drivers who slowed down to get themselves some room for a clean lap. Unfortunately, they did so right on the racing line, forcing other drivers to slow down too and abort their best laps just to avoid them. Such an unsporting behaviour, that wasn’t punished by the Race Direction, resulted in Jaafar lapping very far from his ideal laptime, ending the session in P14. From there the Malaysian talent drove a good race, nailing a good start and delivering a good recovery drive to finish P12, but that wasn’t enough to get some more precious championship points.

Now the team will focus on the championship’s next round, coming in less than two weeks time in Nuerburgring.   

Igor Salaquarda (Team Owner)

“It’s pity to throw away the final day of the weekend due to the careless behaviour of some drivers. I understand that on such a track traffic is an issue for everybody but if you need to slow down to get some room for a clean lap, the circuit’s layout offers plenty of spots to do that far from the racing line. Unfortunately, someone didn’t care about hindering other drivers and even if four teams were called to race direction after the session no action was taken. It’s quite unbelievable, and it leaves us very disappointed”.

Jazeman Jaafar: Q2 – P10; R2 – P13

“I had a good pace in qualifying, the car was quick, but I had to slow down twice when somebody nearly stopped in the middle of the last corner just to launch himself for a clean flying lap. I didn’t find it very fair, but I could do nothing to avoid it and so I had to accept a P14 start. Even before the race I knew that the race would have been difficult starting from seventh row. I managed to pass Tunjo at the start and Visser after the pit-stop, but I couldn’t do more on such a narrow track as Moscow Raceway”.