Driver Database News

Adrian Quaife-Hobbs drove a faultless race to take a convincing lights to flag victory in the latest rounds of the GP3 Series in Valencia on Saturday. The 20 year-old started from the second row and after leaping into the lead at the start was never headed as he went on to record his maiden series win and the fastest lap of the race.

Adrian kicked off the weekend with a scintillating pace in qualifying, which saw him top the times for much of the session. However on his final flying lap the Marussia Manor Racing star was heavily baulked in the last sector, after setting the fastest time in the first two, dropping him to third fastest of the 30 runners.

In the race on Saturday afternoon, Adrian made a superb start to get the jump on the front row starters to take an immediate lead. A safety car period on the opening lap, when two cars tangled mid-field, failed to put Adrian off his stride and at the restart the Tonbridge racer made another impeccable getaway to hold position.

Posting fastest lap several times throughout the race, Adrian gradually pulled away at the front, opening up a 6.3 second advantage at the flag, and the fastest lap to add to his joy and gaining him an additional point.

With the top eight reversed for Sunday morning’s second race, Adrian lined up on the fourth row and at the start gained two places after another lighting getaway. However a master cylinder problem early on, which led to a braking issue, ended his chances of moving through the field and resulted in him having to brake far earlier into the corners.

This prevented him from achieving what would likely have been a podium finish, allowing two of his rivals through, and winding up eighth. Despite this, Adrian was very happy to have scored his first GP3 victory and delighted with a return to form as he heads into his only UK appearance on the year, at Silverstone in two weeks time.

“Winning is a fantastic feeling,” he said. “The team did an extremely good job this weekend, giving me a good car for qualifying, where I was consistently fastest for much of the session. Only when I got held up on my flying lap did I get pushed down to third, but I was very happy with our pace and confident going into the race.

“The car was perfect. I got off to a great start and took the lead early on and just pushed the whole way. I was gradually pulling away with each lap and ended up winning by more than six seconds and with fastest lap, which reinforces the superb pace we had.

“Today, however, after a great start where I was challenging for fifth, we had a problem with the master cylinder which meant I wasn’t able to brake as late as I should, and as late as the other drivers, which was frustrating. The car was great on the straights, very fast and I was very happy with that, but sadly I had to brake so early into the corners I was passed by a couple of drivers. Without that I’m fairly certain we could have had a podium. But overall it’s been an excellent weekend and great to win on a street circuit.

“We’ve shown great pace all weekend and it really bodes well for our home race in two weeks time. It shows how hard we’ve worked in the four days in testing and hopefully we can keep the momentum going forwards into Silverstone.”

The next double-header rounds of the 2011 GP3 Series take place over the weekend of 9/10 July at Silverstone’s British Grand Prix meeting in Northamptonshire.

More images and information can be found at www.quaifehobbs.com and www.virginracing.com/news/397/valencia-victory

Round two of Adrian Quaife-Hobbs’ GP3 season brought a step forward in terms of pace but a mechanical issue in qualifying hindered Adrian’s grid position. With competition so close it was difficult to overtake and a start problem in race two meant results were not as positive as indicated by the fast lap-times.

In testing, lap times were good and improving. A few laps into the second of two free-practice sessions, a driver pulled out of the pit-lane and hit Adrian, ending his session and leaving the team to work through the night to fix the damaged car.

The repairs included a gearbox change, and when Adrian went out for the qualifying session on Saturday morning, a minor gear change issue was costing time. It may have only been a small hindrance, but the estimated two-tenths of a second would have made a significant difference on a grid where the top twenty four positions were separated by just one second. Further difficulties were contending with numerous yellow flags and being unable to get a clear lap due to traffic. At the end of the thirty minute session, Adrian had secured 12th place on the 30 car grid.

Race one on Saturday afternoon was hard fought with overtaking extremely difficult. Despite lapping in the same time as the leading pack, Adrian was only able to overtake one car, nonetheless able to gain one valuable place on the grid for Sunday’s race two. Again circumstances were against Adrian when a clutch problem led to him stalling at the race start. Joining the back of the pack, Adrian again was one of the fastest on the track in terms of pace, but overtaking proved difficult and he crossed the line in 23rd.

“Although the weekend doesn’t look great from the results, we have improved a lot in terms of pace since Istanbul, so while results would have been good, I’m optimistic that I’ll soon be scoring points. The testing accident started things off badly and without the gear change problem I’m sure I would have been in the top six. Knowing that I can consistently lap in the same times as the front-runners is a big boost and I’m looking forward to showing what I can do at Valencia in June.”

Adrian’s next race event also takes place in Spain, on the Valencia street circuit over 24-26 June.

Adrian Quaife-Hobbs completed a successful maiden F1 test at the wheel of Marussia Virgin Racing’s MVR-02 Formula One car on Sunday, completing 146 kms of the Idiado proving ground in Spain. As part of the Marussia Virgin Young Driver programme, the 20 year-old helped the team in its first straight-line aero test carrying out detailed evaluation work with the updated aerodynamic package, which was introduced at the last round in Turkey.

The test was carried out with a view to extracting maximum performance from the car from next weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix onwards with the car running reliably throughout for the Marussia Manor Racing GP3 star.

Adrian visited the team’s Sheffield base for a briefing and seat fitting on Thursday and flew out early on Saturday morning for Sunday’s test, declaring the run a dream come true. “It was an incredibly special day for me,” said Adrian. “Driving a Formula One car is what every young driver dreams of from the moment you start racing, and it has been fantastic to finally experience that.

“I completed many runs for the team and helped them to collect a lot of data. I can’t thank Marussia Virgin Racing enough for this amazing opportunity, as it really allows me to gain experience and see how a Formula One team works. Experiences like this only make you hungry for more and it’s exciting to get a taste of what the future could hold.”

Team Principal John Booth, was equally happy with the team’s first straight-line aero test and Adrian’s performance. “Congratulations to Adrian on a very impressive debut in the Marussia Virgin Racing MVR-02 today. It really is extremely rewarding to put these young guys in the car and see how they respond to such an opportunity. He acclimatised well to the car and developed a strong rapport with the engineers and mechanics, so he should feel pleased with his first day’s work in a Formula One car.

“Overall it has been a very productive test for us, with the Idiada proving ground providing us with excellent conditions with which to test the updated package that we introduced at the last race. As we might have expected in its debut outing, we experienced a few teething problems in Istanbul and this test has provided us with the opportunity to understand more of the potential of the developments. We’re looking forward to seeing further signs of progress in Spain next week.”

Video footage of Adrian’s first F1 test with the Marussia Virgin Racing, together with additional imagery, will be available later this week on Adrian’s official website at www.quaifehobbs.com.

Adrian returns to racing action when he pilots his Marussia Manor Racing GP3 car in the next double-header rounds of the 2011 GP3 Series this weekend at the Catalunya circuit in Barcelona, Spain.

Adrian Quaife-Hobbs will get his first taste of F1 power when he carries out testing duties for the Marussia Virgin Racing F1 team at Idiada, Spain on Sunday. The 20 year-old GP3 racer competes for the sister Marussia Manor Racing GP3 team and as part of the Marussia Virgin Young Driver Development Programme will carry out approximately 300 kms evaluating the body work of the car used in the first three races of 2011.

Thereafter he will evaluate the new and updated car in preparation for the remaining rounds of the Formula One World Championship. Adrian will visit the Sheffield workshop on Thursday for a briefing and seat fitting prior to flying out early on Saturday for Sunday’s test which gets underway at 9am.

The Tonbridge racer is relishing his first outing in an F1 car and quick to thank the team for the opportunity. “I’m very much looking forward to driving an F1 car for the first time and must thank the Marussia Virgin Racing team for the faith they have shown in me in allowing me to carry out aerodynamic testing in their new car.

“It’s a great opportunity to get the chance to drive an F1 car as the team carries out computerised design testing with the new car. We’ll be testing lots of aero parts and I’m really proud to be playing a part in it. Doing aero testing there is no pressure to perform but it will give me a great opportunity to see how the F1 team works.”

Following the test, Adrian will return to racing action in the next double-header rounds of the 2011 GP3 Series which take place over the weekend of 20-22 May at the Catalunya circuit in Barcelona, Spain.

Adrian Quaife-Hobbs had a frustrating start to his GP3 campaign after a broken starter motor in the weekend’s opening 15-lap race effectively ended his chances of capitalising on his pre-season testing form. Adrian went into the opening rounds of the 16-race series buoyed by a scintillating pace in Barcelona in which he topped the time sheets.

Arriving in Turkey the 20 year-old was confident of repeating that pace with the Marussia Manor Racing team, but in Friday’s wet/dry sessions was unable to get the most out of his Pirelli tyres. In qualifying on Saturday morning, Adrian was unfortunate to have his flying lap ruined by a spinning car, which came back onto the track in front of him, ending his run. He wound up 16th fastest but still confident of being able to move up through the order.

However as he took to the grid for Saturday’s opening race, Adrian suffered a problem with the starter motor, which his mechanics tried to fix prior to the start. However as the one-minute board was shown, Adrian was pushed off the grid, and forced to start the race from the pit-lane. In a field of 30 cars, and with the added handicap of suffering a drive-through penalty for the grid infringement, he drove a strong race to make up six places crossing the line 24th.

With the results of race one determining the grid for race two, Adrian lined up in that position on the 12th row and by lap three was already up to 17th. Over the course of the remaining laps, the Tonbridge racer was not able to make much more progress but was happy to have made up eight places at the flag to finish 16th.

“It certainly hasn’t been the start of the season I was hoping for after topping the times in testing,” said Adrian. “In qualifying a car spun and came back onto the track just as I was going for my flying lap, which brought that to a finish. In race one the starter motor failed on the grid and although the team did a good job to try and fix it, because the one-minute board had been shown, the marshals pushed me off the grid and into the pits, and then I got a drive-through penalty too.

“That was my weekend pretty much over although I think we recovered well in the second race coming back through the field from 24th to 16th. I was satisfied with our pace in both races, it’s just disappointing we had the starter motor problem in race one as we showed we could have had potentially two strong finishes.

“We will put that all behind us now though and if we carry on working like we did this weekend I’m sure we will do well and be back on the pace for Barcelona.”

The next double-header rounds of the 2011 GP3 Series take place over the weekend of 20-22 May at the Catalunya circuit in Barcelona, Spain.

Formula Renault Eurocup and NEC front-runner Adrian Quaife-Hobbs has successfully completed his first World Series by Renault test, the 18 year-old completing around 75 laps of the Motorland Aragon circuit. Last weekend the BRDC Rising Star brought his 2009 race season to a close in Spain, but stayed on to test a Comtec Racing Car in the first official WSR tests.

Adrian joined many of his Formula Renault rivals as well as several drivers who have previously contested the series, with Adrian only venturing out on track on the second of the two days. In Wednesday’s opening session of two, the Tonbridge teenager adapted quickly to the increased horsepower of the 3.5 litre car and he wound up a very impressive sixth quickest on his first ever time in the car.

The second session allowed Adrian to improve his lap times considerably and close down the gap to the quickest time, the former double T-Cars champion ending up fourth fastest, a little over three tenths off. In the session, he was beaten only by two drivers from the 2009 WSR championship and another driver, in his second full day in the car.

“It was a fantastic experience driving a World Series by Renault car and I’m very happy with how quickly I adapted,” said Adrian. “Comtec Racing was an excellent team and I think we worked together very well.

“To end the session fourth quickest, behind two drivers who have competed in the championship this season and another who had the benefit of another day under his belt, I feel is a good result. With more time in the car, I’m sure I could have gone even quicker.

“Now we have to consider our options for 2010. We tested British F3 last week with T-Sport and now this week in WSR and both the championships, teams and cars have their advantages. There are however lots of things to take into consideration before we decide, but hopefully it’s a decision we can make quite quickly.”

Adrian Quaife-Hobbs brought his 2009 racing campaign to a close in the final rounds of the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 Championship at Motorland Aragon at the weekend. The 18 year-old, fresh from a successful F3 test last week, went straight to Spain for the double-header event with the intention of taking fourth in the standings.

On arrival at the new circuit Adrian went straight into two free practice sessions in which the BRDC Rising was left disappointed by the pace. Despite winding up fourth quickest in the first session, his times were set on new tyres with his rivals on old, leaving the Motopark Academy team work to do before qualifying.

This they did to good effect however, the Tonbridge teenager bouncing back to form with the fourth fastest time in his group just over a tenth off pole. In the combined Superpole shootout to determine the grid for race one, Adrian against set the fourth fastest lap, two places ahead of his chief rival Miki Monras.

Saturday’s opening race proved largely uneventful for Adrian. A good start allowed him to hold position but by the end of the opening lap he’d dropped to seventh. With one eye on the whereabouts of Monras behind, Adrian drove a steady mid-part of the race concentrating on keeping a solid sixth place but as the race neared the end, the former double T-Cars champion upped his pace to stretch the gap to Monras.

In Sunday’s race two, Adrian again started from fourth, and the fraught race proved nail-biting right to the flag. With the championship title still very much at stake between three drivers, including Adrian’s team-mate Antonio Felix da Costa, team tactics were much in evidence over the course of the race.

But for Adrian, the battle for fourth was very much his target, entering the race on equal points with Monras. At the start, he had the advantage with a car in between them as the race progressed.

The battle for the race lead was fought out by six drivers, with the lead changing hands several times over the race distance. Throughout Adrian enjoyed a battle with Jean Eric Vergne, the pair swapping places several times.

On the penultimate lap, with his championship position secured, Adrian upped his pace to pass Kevin Magnussen and cross the line fourth, to give him that position in the points standings.

Adrian will now stay in Spain to take part in the official World Series by Renault tests which take place on Wednesday, when he will drive a Comtec Racing car.

Formula Renault Eurocup front-runner Adrian Quaife-Hobbs tested a T-Sport Dallara VW Formula 3 car at Pembrey this week as the 18 year-old evaluates his options for 2010. The former double T-Cars champion and FBMW racer successfully completed 90 laps around the Welsh track and was very happy with the opportunity.

“It was a great experience to run in a British F3 car with T-Sport and it has certainly given us an option for next season,” said Adrian. “The car was good to drive, and I felt confident very early on and was able to set some quick times for the wet conditions.

“We haven’t yet decided on our plans for next season, we still have another round remaining of the Formula Renault Eurocup this weekend in Spain, but as first tests with a new team go, I was very pleased with the way the T-Sport team operates and happy with the results.”

T-Sport boss Russell Eacott was equally delighted with the performance of the BRDC Rising Star, who after two years racing in Europe, may well be set to return to race in the UK.

“Adrian acclimatised very well to the car and we were very impressed with his performance after just ten laps,” said Russell. “The weather conditions were far from deal but Adrian was immediately on the pace and we would love the opportunity to work with him in British Formula 3 next season.

“There is no question that his time in Formula Renault has helped him tremendously, his feedback was terrific and he showed great ability and discipline in working with the team at this level. We very much hope we can work with him in the future as I feel he could be a serious contender.”

Adrian concludes his 2009 racing season with the final rounds of the Formula Renault Eurocup at Motorland Aragon in Spain this weekend after which the Tonbridge racer will continue a test programme before finalising plans for the 2010 season.

Adrian Quaife-Hobbs brought his 2009 Formula Renault 2.0 North European Cup campaign to a close at Spa at the weekend, taking two fourth places to finish fourth in the points standings, just three points adrift of third.

The 18 year-old was once again among the pace-setters in Friday’s damp test sessions posting the second fastest time and comfortably ahead of his rivals. For the BRDC Rising Star, the results of the races would prove crucial in his bid to take third place in the championship to secure a World Series by Renault test.

In the qualifying session, Adrian was fourth fastest to take a second row start for the opening 10 lapper. At the start, he briefly dropped to sixth before quickly finding a way past chief rival Marco Sorensen and pulling away and catching third placed Daniel de Jong.

However some aggressively defensive driving from de Jong prevented Adrian from making his attempts to pass stick and several times he was forced to lift off, taking fourth at the flag.

The weekend’s final round was wet, the typical Spa weather playing a crucial role in the outcome of the battle. A slow getaway from fifth, with too much wheelspin, dropped Adrian down the order but he quickly made up ground pushing newly-crowned champion Antonio Felix da Costa for second.

With Sorensen in the lead, Adrian would need to finish second to have a chance of finishing third in the title battle, and for several laps the Tonbridge teenager enjoyed a battle for the place with his Motopark team-mate. However as the pair exited Eau Rouge running side-by-side, Adrian was forced wide, dropping a wheel onto the gravel and allowing Kevin Magnussen through into third.

With just one lap remaining, Adrian closed down the two-second gap to third place but was denied the chance of taking a podium finish by just a second, crossing the line in fourth place.

“Things started really well for us, setting the second quickest time in the damp tests but in the dry the set-up didn’t really suit us and the car didn’t work so well. I felt confident however of being able to get the positions in the races to get third in the championship and with it the WSR test but sadly it didn’t turn out that way.

“In the opening race I managed to stick with my rival for the position and was easily able to get by him and close down the gap to de Jong who was running less wing. But he was weaving across the track quite a bit and I had to lift to avoid a collision when I tried to pass him, otherwise I’m sure I could have had third.

“In the second race, I got too much wheelspin off the line and dropped back a bit but managed to get up to third on the opening lap and then had da Costa ahead who made life very difficult to pass. We swapped places several times but with two laps to go I dropped a wheel on the gravel which allowed Magnussen through.”

With the North European Cup now finished, Adrian heads to his last event of the season, the final rounds of the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 Championship at Motorland over the weekend of 24/25 October.

Adrian Quaife-Hobbs took another podium finish in the Formula Renault 2.0 North European Cup in the second of two races at the Nürburgring this weekend to jump to third in the points standings. The weekend also featured the penultimate rounds of the Eurocup in which Adrian drove a storming opening round from 12th to finish fourth to keep him in contention for fourth in the championship.

The 18 year-old kicked off the weekend with a cracking pace in free practice, second and third quickest in the two 40 minute Eurocup sessions. That ensured he would qualify through to the Superpole shootout in which he wound up sixth quickest.

The opening round of the Eurocup however, didn’t allow the BRDC Rising Star to capitalise on his grid position, as an overheating clutch problem on the line dropped him down the order, entering the first corner in 12th. A storming drive through the field allowed the former T-Cars champion to carve his way up the order, finishing fourth at the end.

There were high hopes of race two producing a podium finish until an incident at the first corner forced Adrian wide and off onto the gravel. Another strong drive over the course of the race allowed Adrian to make up several places but some defensive driving from several drivers prevented him from finishing higher than ninth.

The North European Cup races had Adrian struggle with an intermittent problem over the remaining three laps while lying fifth. The resultant problems dropped him to seventh but race two saw a return to form that netted victory earlier in the year.

A great start had Adrian take the immediate lead ahead of Antonio Felix da Costa and for five laps, including a three lap safety car period, he held the championship leader at bay. However on lap six the experienced da Costa got a better line at the chicane and found a way past. Soon after Kevin Korjus passed Adrian for second, although he quickly retook the place. The short delay allowed da Costa to pull away slightly and prevented Adrian from mounting a serious challenge to retake the lead.

“It was a weekend of mixed fortunes really. We set some quick times in practice and qualifying and in the Eurocup race it was great to fight back from 12th to fourth and of course another podium in the NEC has improved my position in the points standings.

“Hopefully we can return to the final rounds of both championships and finish the season with victory.”

The final round of the North European Cup at Spa takes place over the weekend of 3/4 October with the Eurocup final rounds at Motorland three weeks later on 25 October.