Class 1 - Victory wins Arendal second GP, Qatar 96 takes important second spot

Top European Team in the Arendal GP, Foresti & Suardi from Italy taking 4th place

Victory 77’s Arif Saif Al Zafeen and Jean-Marc Sanchez took their second consecutive win of the season in the Norwegian Grand Prix to move 11 points clear in the overall world championship standings. Qatar 96 took second spot ahead of Victory 7 third place and now making two podiums in two races. Starting from second spot on the front row, Victory 77 were second into the first corner behind Spirit of Norway 10, but trailed the defending champions for four laps, making little impression. Then on lap five, Spirit of Norway hit trouble and slowed, with 77 grabbing the lead and gradually extending their lead over Qatar 96 over the next eight laps to win the 12-lap, 95.72nm Norwegian Grand Prix in 53mins 59.42secs. Important second consecutive podium for Qatar 96 very much in the title hunt and moves them into second equal place in the championship with Victory 7 and in a good position to challenge Victory 77.

The first of the European teams was Foresti & Suardi, with Giampaolo Montavoci and Marco Pennesi taking an important fourth place in their first race together and on Pennesi’s Class 1 debut. Also producing an impressive showing was the youngest pairing in Class 1, Tom Barry-Cotter and Pal Nilsen in Spirit of Norway 20, finishing fifth.

Outside of the top five, there was a trail of disappointment. Bjorn Gjelsten and Steve Curtis, looked to be in control of the race on the opening laps and on course to put their title challenge back on track, when Spirit of Norway suffered a broken water hose, forcing them into the pits and despite returning to the race, were able to salvage only five points when engine problems forced them to stop. Negotiator’s miserable start to the season continued, leading the long list of retirements; SeveneleveN, Jotun, VM Foresti & Suardi and Qatar 95 all stopping with technical problems. Victory team now head to Oslo for the Scandinavian Grand Prix on August 12, leading the title race, with Arif Al Zafeen and Jean-Marc Sanchez looking to make it three wins out of three.

RACE RESULTS:
1. Victory 77 – Al Zafeen(UAE)/Sanchez (FR)
2. Qatar 96 – Al Thani (QAT)/Nicolini (ITA) + 00.43,98
3. Victory 7 – Al Suwaidi (UAE)/Hendi (UAE) + 01.06,28
4. Foresti & Suardi 8 – M Pennesi (ITA)/ Montavoci (ITA) + 02.41,39
5. Spirit of Norway 20 – Barry-Cotter (AUS)/Nilsen (NOR) + 04.01,81
6. Spirit of Norway 10 – Gjelsten (NOR)/Curtis (GB) + 3 laps
Qatar 95 – Al Sulaiti (QAT)/L Nicolini (ITA) – dnf VM
Foresti & Suardi 2 – D Cirilli/K Olsen (NOR) - dnf
Jotun 90 – Zaborowski (NOR)/Tandberg (NOR) - dnf
SeveneleveN 18 – Polli (ITA)/Giorgi (ITA) – dnf
Negotiator 50 – Eker (NOR)/Parsonage (GB) - dnf
CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS – after round 2 of 8
1. Victory 77 – Al Zafeen(UAE)/Sanchez (FR) – 42pts
2=. Victory 7 – Al Suwaidi (UAE)/Hendi (UAE) – 31pts
2=. Qatar 96 – Al Thani (QAT)/Nicolini (ITA) – 31pts
4. Spirit of Norway 10 – Gjelsten (NOR)/Curtis (GB) – 16pts
5. Qatar 95 – Al Sulaiti (QAT)/L Nicolini (ITA) – 13pts
6. Foresti & Suardi 8 – M Pennesi (ITA)/ Montavoci (ITA) – 9pts
7=. SeveneleveN 18 – Polli (ITA)/Giorgi (ITA) – 7pt
7=. Spirit of Norway 20 – Barry-Cotter (AUS)/Nilsen (NOR) – 7pts
9. Negotiator 50 – Eker (NOR)/Parsonage (GB) – 4pts
10= Jotun 90 – Zaborowski (NOR)/Tandberg (NOR) - 0pts
10= VM Foresti & Suardi 2 – D Cirilli/K Olsen (NOR) – 0pts
(Championship points include bonus points allocated to teams for running engines for two consecutive races - one point, per engine, per race)

www.class-1.com