Full Throttle

Jacques Villeneuve sets fastest lap at Speedcar Series test session.

Jacques “Le BeBe” Villeneuve set the pace on the first day of the Speedcar Series test session at the Dubai Autodrome. This 2-day test is the final one before the start of Season 2 on 5-6 December, 2008.

Nine drivers attended the test session today. Former F1 drivers Jacques Villeneuve and Stefan Johansson as well as Mathias Lauda were all part of Speedcar Series’ debut season. Today was the first opportunity they have had to test the Speedcars newly evolved with 6.2 litre engines and composite paneled bodies.

Fresh drivers to the Series included locally based Khalid Al Zarooni, Eric Charles and Christopher Zoechling who have tested the Speedcars at previous sessions held at the Dubai Autodrome. For Italians Massimo Cioci and Beppe Perazzini as well as Briton Nigel Greensall, today was their first time in the custom built stockcars.

The Speedcar Series, for the uninitiated, is a circuit-based racing league that runs at events across Asia with 620hp 6-liter V8-powered stock cars. Most of the grid in last years inaugural season was composed of former F1 drivers looking to relive their glory days.

Jacques Villeneuve came to the series for the last two events of the season to hone his stock-car skills against his former colleagues. He must have had Robert Duval on the radio yelling, “rubbin’ is racin’!” as he slammed into any and everything on the track.

This season will see Speedcar Series run at the Malaysian and Bahrain F1 Grand Prix as well as in stand alone events in conjunction with GP2 Asia under the Grand Racing banner.

Johnny Herbert, the Series’ first Champion said, “Racing a Speedcar was a completely new experience for me but it is just such an exciting car and a challenge to drive. The Series is brilliant because it welcomes drivers from various fields of motor racing and the champions podium last season was testament to that being shared by an ex F1 driver, karting champion David Terrien and Alzen an endurance racer. And the bottom line is that it’s entertaining - for us and the fans.”

Jean Alesi said “I’m very excited and looking forward to the second season. The last one showed how entertaining and competitive Speedcar Series is. I’m expecting the new season to be a successful one and as always I will do my best for the Series, especially looking forward to beating Johnny Herbert and winning the championship.”

The lap times of the day are as follows:

Driver Timing

Jacques Villeneuve 1:43.56
Christopher Zoechling 1:43.76
Mathias Lauda 1:43.83
Stefan Johansson 1:45.00
Massimo Cioci 1:45.07
Khalid Al Zarooni 1:46.07
Beppe Perazzini 1:47.07
Nigel Greensall 1:48.00
Eric Charles 1:49.28

The provisional calendar for the ‘08-’09 season is as follows:

Date Circuit Country Event

05-06 December Dubai UAE Grand Racing
23-24 January Sakhir Bahrain Grand Racing
27-28 February Dubai UAE Grand Racing
04-05 April Sepang Malaysia F1 Grand Prix
18-19 April Sakhir Bahrain F1 Grand Prix
24-25 April Dubai UAE Grand Racing