Jeddah Corniche Circuit

SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX

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March 21, 2010
Published on tags: Superleague
2010. This year's GPVWC Superleague season is shaping up to be as spectacular as can be imagined - not least for Synergetic Motorsports.

The Belfast-based squad have currently been placed under management by the Hatchell-Pennine Group following unavoidable issues with Mal McKee's ability to run the team for a select period. The Hatchell-Pennine Group CEO, Liam Hatchell, has now issued an order of development to the team's technical side in order to boost performance from the SM-10, built in-house by the team during the winter of 2009. With a full aero package upgrade already implemented on the car before the first round, this season could yet become spicy.

The number 8 car - driven by Hatchell himself - will partner new team mate Gavin Thomas, an experienced man from the recently departed Red5Racing. Thomas proclaimed that he is eagerly anticipating the new season with a new team, and hopes to get used to the SM-10 as much as possible during the first races. "I can't wait for Thursday [25th March, Season opener at Melbourne], my starts have always been great so I'm hoping to make a bunch of places by the first few corners", Thomas said in the Press Conference on Sunday morning.

"Gavin's abilities will never be doubted by myself or Mr McKee. If I didn't think he was up to the job I would have dismissed any interest in drafting him into the team" said Hatchell. "Myself and Gav have already discussed strategies for the season opener at Albert Park. We arrived here last week and have been spending a lot of time around the circuit, walking the public parts of the track to gain as much information as we can, as of course, this is a part-temporary track.

"We know the car isn't capable of winning outright here, simply because of the lack of high end power from the Cosworth engine. We'll lose too much time in sectors one and three, but the twisty bits in sector two will show the car's potential at other circuits thanks to the downforce and low to mid grunt of the powerplant we'll be sat infront of".