The Himalayan Times : Kobayashi fastest in first practice - Detail News : Nepal News Portal

Full News

Kobayashi fastest in first practice

   
  

Added At:  2012-08-31 9:13 PM

   Last Updated At: 2012-08-31 9:13 PM

  • print

ASSOCIATED PRESS

SPA: Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi was fastest in the rain-soaked first practice session at the Belgian Grand Prix (GP) on Friday, with championship leader Fernando Alonso preferring to stay in the Ferrari garage.

Defending champion Sebastian Vettel waited until near the end of the session before posting the ninth quickest time under hard rain, but he was holding his Red Bull back on the slippery circuit. Kobayashi clocked 2 minutes, 11.389 seconds for Sauber, with Venezuelan rival Pastor Maldonado second quickest in 2:11.941 for Williams, followed by Daniel Ricciardo of Australia in his Toro Rosso.

Felipe Massa tried to come out in the closing stages but decided against it as smoke started to spew from the rear of his Ferrari. Besides a soaking track, drivers had to contend with dark clouds and low visibility, while some fans huddled under umbrellas and others sought shelter where they could.

Full wet tires were necessary on the treacherous 7.004-kilometre (4.352-mile) track, which is the longest on the calendar and widely considered the most demanding along with Monaco. Kobayashi was the only driver to do a timed lap for the first 45 minutes as other drivers, having done their install runs, chatted to engineers as they waited for conditions to improve.

Mark Webber, second in the overall standings behind Alonso and two ahead of third-place Vettel, was fifth quickest behind Vergne. McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button were 15th and 16th, respectively.

Full Name

Email Address

Location

Leave Comments


Enter Character above

I accept terms of use.

Also Read

Related News