The 2008 Speedcar Series comes to a climax this weekend during the Grand Racing weekend at Dubai Autodrome. Friday (11 April) saw the running of the first of two races in this weekend’s action packed bill with the matter of the Championship to be decided between Frenchman Jean Alesi, Germany’s Uwe Alzen and Dubai based Frenchman David Terrien.
France’s Nicolas Navarro upset the form book by qualifying on pole position for Race 1 but was unfortunate to have to start from the pitlane gifting Italian Gianni Morbidelli the top grid slot. Into turn one it was Championship leader Alesi who took the initial lead with a trail of rip roaring V8 machines tucked behind his bumper including Morbidelli, Terrien, Englishman Johnny Herbert and Alzen.
Behind this group was a fierce battle between local hero Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum and 1997 Formula One World Champion, Canada’s, Jacques Villeneuve and Swede Stefan Johansson. The Emirati giving a good account of himself in exalted company.
The battle for the lead started to hot up 15 minutes into the race as the top four as they flexed their 620 BHP muscles jostling for position. The lead changed several times as Morbidelli, Terrien, Herbert and Alesi battled it out with Alzen hovering in the background and gaining on the leaders.
Then the unthinkable happened to Alesi as his engine failed resulting in his retirement and boosting Alzen and Terrien’s Championship aspirations and effectively blowing the series wide open. Alesi’ demise reduced the lead battle to the trio of Morbidelli, Herbert and Terrien. At the finish it was Herbert who took the chequered flag by less than a second from Terrien and Morbidelli comfortably in third. Alzen, who at times is prone to red mist clouding his judgment, played it safe to take fourth and a two point lead over Alesi, with Terrien a mere five points adrift which sets the scene for a terrific climax to the Championship title with one race to go tomorrow, day two of Grand Racing at Dubai Autodrome.
Down the order Navarro stormed through the field and took on Al Maktoum getting past in the latter stages to notch up fifth place behind Marchy Lee.
Herbert set the fastest lap of the race.
RACE 1 RESULTS
1. JOHNNY HERBERT (GBR) Speedcar Team
2. DAVID TERRIEN (FRA) UP Team
3. GIANNI MORBIDELLI (ITA) Speedcar Team
4. UWE ALZEN (GER) Phoenix Racing
5. MARCHY LEE (CHN) Speedcar Team
6. NICLOAS NAVARRO (FRA) First Centreville
7. HASHER AL MAKTOUM (UAE) UP Team
8. STEFAN JOHANSSON (SWE) Speedcar Team
9. JACQUES VILLENEUVE (CAN) Speedcar Team
10. FABIEN GIROIX (FRA) First Centreville