Motorsports: Karun, team fourth in Sao Paulo practice

LE MANS, FRANCE – JUNE 17: The JRM Racing HPD ARX 03a Honda of David Brabham, Karun Chandhok and Peter Drumbreck drives during the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit de la Sarthe on June 16, 2012 in Le Mans, France.

Sao Paulo (Brazil), Sep 14 – The JRM Racing Team, preparing for this weekend’s fourth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, enjoyed good free practice sessions at the iconic Interlagos circuit here Friday with their HPD-ARX03a car clocking the fourth overall quickest time of one minute and 24.265 seconds.

The team comprising Karun Chandhok, David Brabham and Peter Dumbreck finished the first day of practice for the Six Hours of Sao Paulo endurance race as the fastest petrol car and the highest classified privateer team.

Over the two 90-minute sessions, the crew completed 77 laps running through a programme of tyre evaluation, set up and circuit familiarisation.

Chandhok, who has never driven at the famed Interlagos circuit, had to contend with rain in both sessions as Dumbreck, who last raced at Interlagos two years ago in GT1, set the quickest time of the day in the second 90-minute practice session.

“I am very excited about racing here in Brazil for the first time. I came here last year as the reserve driver for Team Lotus and did lots of laps on my bike, but never got a chance to drive around Interlagos,” Chandhok said.

“I love coming to the older circuits with a lot of character and this certainly is one of them.

“Today was about learning the circuit as I have never driven here before. It started drizzling at the start of the second session when I was out, but it was useful to get some data in all types of conditions.

“We concentrated more on race preparation and we got plenty of information and ideas to study overnight. The traffic doesn’t seem as bad as I thought. With fewer cars it isn’t so bad, except in the very narrow mid sector,” he added.

“We didn’t set out to get a quick time and we know that the other teams are going to come back strong tomorrow, but for now, I’d say it’s been a good day,” Chandhok said.