Create account | Log in as member
Superlights
Chinese Grand Prix
Shanghai International Circuit
Tuesday 23rd of April 2024 19:00:00
More
Create account | Log in as member
May 15, 2012
Tweet
The sudden departure of lead driver Joe Consiglio opened up a wild range of scenarios for Superleague stalwarts Nordsjoen Racing, the team now needing to find a replacement for the two-time World Champion in time for the Monaco Grand Prix.
Nordsjoen manager William Ponissi explained the choices the team directors now have to take: "Obviously, Joe's departure is a big blow to our Championship hopes. Joe had racked up most of our points due to Pavel Loknovski's persisting electronics issues, and to lose our lead driver surely sets us on the back foot. However, great teams are the ones which bounce up from a setback quickly and we are aiming to do just that."
The possible options to jump in what will be rebadged as car #0 include test driver Ben Warren and a range of drivers including Supercup leader Petter Kaasa, Green Stripes Racing's stand-in supersub Dave Carr-Smith and Scotman Sam Millar. With Adam Rouse, Nordsjoen's other test driver, calling himself out of the contest to replace Consiglio, Warren is the driver with the most experience at the wheel of the NR005.
"Ben is talented and a great team player, and he'd be the natural choice for the seat" said Ponissi about Warren. The Englishman, who is competing in Supercup, was seen at the Nordsjoen factory discussing with Joe Consiglio's former race engineer, which leads many to believe the Oxford-based driver could be competing in Monaco for the Italian-Norwegian team.
And the team's Nordic roots seem to make Petter Kaasa a favourite to land the seat in a more permanent fashion. Kaasa, who has been on Nordsjoen's target list since 2010, is currently leading the Supercup and no one in the GPVWC doubt the talent of the Oslo-based TMo driver. "Obviously, any team would jump through hoops to sign Petter" said Ponissi. "The two things that stand mostly in the way before Petter can drive for us, however, are the fact that he'd be forced to leave his Supercup seat just when he is leading the Championship in such commanding fashion, and that Torrent Motorsport tend to be kinda touchy when managers from bigger teams come knocking; this could put a dent in our chances but we know what we can offer."
The last, but not least, option on the table for Nordsjoen is hugely experienced Dave Carr-Smith. "DCS is a talent, and his recent results in the Green Stripes show that. He is also a Monaco specialist, and that never hurts as we need points quickly. His GPVWC tally might only say two victories, but his ability should surely warrant more." One problem in signing Carr-Smith would lay in what is expected to be GSR's Christoph Lichtenstein's reluctance to lose his "supersub" - especially approaching a Monaco Grand Prix the Englishman is widely expected to drive in the German car.
"We hope to be able to find a driver to give the seat permanently as soon as possible" concluded Ponissi. Draig and Red Archer, Nordsjoen's direct rivals for P2 in the standings, are surely watching.
Nordsjoen manager William Ponissi explained the choices the team directors now have to take: "Obviously, Joe's departure is a big blow to our Championship hopes. Joe had racked up most of our points due to Pavel Loknovski's persisting electronics issues, and to lose our lead driver surely sets us on the back foot. However, great teams are the ones which bounce up from a setback quickly and we are aiming to do just that."
The possible options to jump in what will be rebadged as car #0 include test driver Ben Warren and a range of drivers including Supercup leader Petter Kaasa, Green Stripes Racing's stand-in supersub Dave Carr-Smith and Scotman Sam Millar. With Adam Rouse, Nordsjoen's other test driver, calling himself out of the contest to replace Consiglio, Warren is the driver with the most experience at the wheel of the NR005.
"Ben is talented and a great team player, and he'd be the natural choice for the seat" said Ponissi about Warren. The Englishman, who is competing in Supercup, was seen at the Nordsjoen factory discussing with Joe Consiglio's former race engineer, which leads many to believe the Oxford-based driver could be competing in Monaco for the Italian-Norwegian team.
And the team's Nordic roots seem to make Petter Kaasa a favourite to land the seat in a more permanent fashion. Kaasa, who has been on Nordsjoen's target list since 2010, is currently leading the Supercup and no one in the GPVWC doubt the talent of the Oslo-based TMo driver. "Obviously, any team would jump through hoops to sign Petter" said Ponissi. "The two things that stand mostly in the way before Petter can drive for us, however, are the fact that he'd be forced to leave his Supercup seat just when he is leading the Championship in such commanding fashion, and that Torrent Motorsport tend to be kinda touchy when managers from bigger teams come knocking; this could put a dent in our chances but we know what we can offer."
The last, but not least, option on the table for Nordsjoen is hugely experienced Dave Carr-Smith. "DCS is a talent, and his recent results in the Green Stripes show that. He is also a Monaco specialist, and that never hurts as we need points quickly. His GPVWC tally might only say two victories, but his ability should surely warrant more." One problem in signing Carr-Smith would lay in what is expected to be GSR's Christoph Lichtenstein's reluctance to lose his "supersub" - especially approaching a Monaco Grand Prix the Englishman is widely expected to drive in the German car.
"We hope to be able to find a driver to give the seat permanently as soon as possible" concluded Ponissi. Draig and Red Archer, Nordsjoen's direct rivals for P2 in the standings, are surely watching.
Related texts:
© 2018 GPVWC Simracing Ltd | Privacy Policy