November 24, 2007 - Heat Race results - The first of six heat races were held today at Valencia with Daniel on the front row for heats 2 and 3. He would start the first heat on pole and P2 in the next heat. Daniel would score the win in both races which, as of this point, gives him provisional pole for the final on Sunday. Morad said, “The car was perfect in that race (heat 2). When I had to push, I pushed for one lap to open up the gap and was able to stay in control of the race from start to finish.”
To determine pole for the final, drivers are assessed points based on their finish in each of the heat races with a win bringing 0 points, second would score 2 points, 3 for third and so on. The objective is to score the least number of points through the heats. After two races, Daniel has the magical 0 points required for the pole. There is one more heat race on Sunday morning ahead of the final. The provisional grid for Daniel's final heat has him on the outside of row 1 with a clear run at corner 1 and possibly the pole for the final.
Some results are still listed as "provisional" we will monitor these and post updates as they become available.
Daniel on track during Friday sessions in Valencia. Photo: © BMW AG
UPDATE 16:00 EST - While Daniel missed a good time in the Super Pole competition he will still be starting on the front row for every heat race. The complex system of four groups split into heat races combined with Daniel's very quick time in regular qualifying means he will be outside row one for three heats and on pole for one heat. The combined results of the heats determines the starting grid for Sunday's final. Racing starts later tonight (early Saturday morning in fact) and we will be following the action and posting results as available.
UPDATE 10:00 EST - Daniel has qualified P2 in his group with a time of 1:16.986, just 1/10th off fastest time. This will put him into the Super Pole shootout to determine pole position for all heat races. Daniel was one of only two drivers to break into the 1:16's.
UPDATE 08:28 EST - Al Craighead (Eformulacarnews.com) has posted the combined results after all three practice sessions and it shows Daniel as P4 with a time of 1:17.658, just 4/10ths off the top time. Daniel would score this time in his final practice (P3 in his group).
*NOTE - The top 25 cars are covered by just less than one second!
November 23, 2007 - Daniel has been in Europe just over a month now with visits to Red Bull Junior headquarters in Austria and testing with Eurointernational in advance of this weekends Formula BMW World Final event in Valencia, Spain. Daniel and the team have been at the track since Wednesday for briefings and media events but would hit the track today (Friday) for open practice sessions. With 35 drivers in attendance, practice is split into two groups with Daniel in the second group. As of now, (7:30 a.m. EST) Daniel has had two sessions with another scheduled ahead of qualifying later this morning. Daniel was 5th and 8th in the two practices so far. We will wait to determine overall standing following posting of session 3 results.
* Allan Craighead, Assistant Editor with Formula Car Magazine is in Valencia interviewing many of the drivers. Click here to hear Allan's interviewwith Daniel . (*2Mb MP3 file)