More Points for DAMS
There were more points for DAMS in Barcelona.
DAMS scored more points in Spain as Dan Ticktum claimed the two points for fastest lap in the Sprint Race.
Ticktum started the weekend fastest in practice but was unable to carry on that pace in qualifying. The Feature Race looked strong until a late safety car came out just after the Brit pitted for fresh tyres so with their competitors getting a free pitstop it turned into a recovery drive.
In the Sprint Race, the team decided to pit Ticktum due to the degradation which turned into the right decision. However, the decision was made too late as Ticktum was left to battle back through the pack without the time to get back up to points paying position.
Dan Ticktum said: “It was a pretty strong start to the weekend with the best time in practice, but we didn’t get the tyres in the window for qualifying with everyone going slow in the final sector to prepare their laps, so I started eighth. The timing of the safety car in the Feature Race was incredibly unlucky. If we’d stopped one lap later then, a podium was almost certain, maybe even a win. We tried an alternate strategy again in the Sprint Race, making a stop for the soft tyre because the hard wasn’t working for us. I started hauling in the cars in front but the stop needed to be a couple laps earlier to score points. Not an ideal weekend, but we’re looking forward to Spa in two weeks.”
Unfortunately, Sean Gelael had to withdraw from the weekend. A last-lap incident in the Feature Race left the Indonesian driver with a fractured vertebra. He is expected to make a full recovery but was unable to race in the Sprint Race.
Sean Gelael said: “A tough weekend for me. I had a collision on the final lap which launched the car up and it landed heavily and I immediately felt some pain in my back. I was extracted from the car by the medical team and they took me to Barcelona Hospital for some precautionary checks and I was diagnosed with a broken vertebra, so I didn’t take part in the Sprint Race. I’m otherwise fine and went back to the hotel last night and now my focus is making sure to get the rest I need to get back in the car as quickly as possible. Thanks to the medical team and the hospital staff who looked after me.”
DAMS will be fully focused on round seven, while Gelael rests up in the hope of returning to his car for Belgium.
Image Credits: (C) Formula Motorsport Limited
