Hockenheim: Wet conditions and back-of-the-grid start marred their race as the Indian duo of Ashwin Sundar and Aditya Patel finished a disappointing 16th and 18th respectively in the ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup season finale here on Sunday.
On a treacherous Hockenheim track, the Indians struggled to cope with the conditions, hampered to a large extent by poor qualifying.
While Ashwin clocked 25:52.162, Aditya finished with a timing of 25:58.353.
“The qualifying time made all the difference. It’s never easy when you start at the back of the grid. It was a tough race but had I got a good start, I could have done better,” said Ashwin.
Aditya also blamed it on conditions saying that he struggled in handling his car due to the slippery track.
“Generally I do well in wet conditions but I was struggling to handle my car. After a point, all I wanted to do was to finish my race because there have been lot of incidents this season,” the 19-year-old said
Starting 16th on the grid, Aditya improved a rung to 15th immediately into the race but dropped pace after nine laps, slipping to 18th spot, for which he eventually settled in the end.
“When the conditions are so tough, one becomes very cautious. I was focussing on not making any mistakes because I was I went off the track at twice or thrice because I pushed the brakes a little too hard. I quite happy to have finished the race but I know I could have done better,” Aditya said.
Starting 17th, Ashwin had a steadier outing but the Chennai-driver said he too could have finished higher up but for the conditions.
“I generally like racing in wet conditions but I messed up in qualifying. The car was fine but then for a driver to have a good race, lot many things have to be right most importantly a good qualifying race,” he said.
German Max Sandritter, who started third on the grid, won the race clocking 25:27.164. His Compatriot Kris Heidorn, who started at eighth, finished second with a timing of 25:35.373. The German domination of the standings was complete with Elia Erhart taking the third spot with a timing of 25:39.875.
Bureau Report
First Published: Sunday, October 25, 2009, 15:43