September 04, 2004
Running order (based in reversed order from 2004 Hungarian Grand Prix Race, first all new drivers (driver who didn't drive at Hungary) in descending numeric order)

Group 1 (5 cars) - Cummings, Aparicio, Harding, Mihailovic, Keersmaekers

Group 2 (5 cars) - Wilkinson, Wolner, Perkins, Lock, Nuti

Group 3 (6 cars) - Whiteman, Tanskanen, Loram, Koski, Irisarri, McConkey

Group 4 (6 cars) - Brown, Frueh, Sleight, Ryan, Jakonen, Elencevski

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Intro:

Hello and welcome to follow Formula One Virtual World Championship qualifying session live from wet and rainy Spa-Francorchamps track. It's been raining now a while and track is quite wet, there are some possibilities that rain might stop during this qualifying sessions as there are clear light blues areas on the clouds clearly seen.

A lap of Spa with Kari Koski:

"Spa is one of the longest circuits on the Grand Prix calendar at nearly 4.3 miles (7 km) it is also one of my favourites.

The lap starts as you cross the start/finish line at over 160 mph (260 kph) reaching a peak speed of about 180 mph (285 kph) before braking for La Source hairpin, which is taken in 1st gear at around 40 mph (60 kph).

I then accelerate down the hill passed the old pits reaching 190 mph (310 kph) before entering what is probably the most challenging corner of any grand prix circuit, Eau Rouge. All drivers attempt to take this flat in qualifying but its very tricky. You need to lift on the throttle to take this complex of corners at a minimum speed of 170 mph (280 kph). It is important to maintain speed through this corner due to the long uphill drag towards Les Combes, I reach around 200 mph (325 kph) before braking for the top chicane which is taken in 3rd gear at between 77-83 mph (125-135 kph).

A short straight where I reach 160 mph (260 kph) then leads to Rivage which is a long right-hand corner taken in 2nd gear at around 62 mph (100 kph). At this corner the circuit drops away and the cars tend to understeer. A 3rd gear left-hand corner taken at 95 mph (150 kph) then leads to another short straight where I reach just under 185 mph (300 kph) in 5th gear before entering the very challenging fast double left-hand Pouhon corner which I enter at 135 mph (215 kph), and accelerate up to 165 mph (270 kph) by the end of the second part.

A 185 mph (300 kph) straight then leads into the Fagnes chicane, the first part of which is taken in 3rd gear at 85 mph (135 kph) and the second part in 4th gear at 100 mph (160 kph). The next corner is a 3rd gear right-hand corner taken at 80 mph (130 kph) followed almost immediately by a 4th gear right-hand corner taken at 140 mph (225 kph) where the circuit rejoins the public road.

From here I accelerate hard heading back towards the pits and going through the super fast left-hand Blanchimont corner at over 185 mph (300 kph). While this corner is flat in Qualifying it can be quite tricky if the circuit is damp or the fuel load is high.

Very hard braking is needed into the small chicane known as the Bus Stop which is taken in 2nd gear at around 55 mph (90 kph). I have to use the kerbs here in order to attain a good lap time. A final left-hand corner is taken flat at around 120 mph (190 kph) as I accelerate out of the Bus stop towards the start/finish line."

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(Sector times are allways being compared to the fastest legal lap time.)

Group 1:

(Cummings, Aparicio, Harding, Mihailovic, Keersmaekers)

It's 14.00 local time and it's time to start the Belgian GP qualifying session. First we will see the drivers who didn't race at Hungary.

Cummings

Puma F1

Cummings was disqualified.

Cummings Finish Line 0 Sector 1 38.223

2:09.243 Sector 2 1:26.963

Aparicio

Simsoa

Javier Aparicio will set the target for the others. David Cummings did set a time of 2min and 9 seconds but his time will be disqualified. At the moment it is not raining but the track is very wet and conditions are far from perfect. Weather forecast for tomorrow is dry so drivers should be driving on dry setup which makes things even more difficult. S1 for Aparicio is 35.573. There are a lot of water spray and lot of standings water on the track and Aparicio is fighting hard with his car to keep it on the line. S2 for Spaniard is 1:21.972. Now into very fast 3rd sector and slow final chicane. On these conditions it's so easy to make a mistake under braking and go wide. Aparicio goes nicely through Bus stop chicane and crosses the line and sets the target as 1:59.640 pretty good time considering the conditions out there.

Aparicio Finish Line 1 Sector 1 35.573

1:59.640 Sector 2 1:21.972

Harding

SCUM

Next driver on the track is Peter Harding on SCUM car. Track is still very wet, but it is not raining at the moment. S1 for Harding is 37.4 and he is over 1.9 seconds off Aparicio's time, maybe Harding is avoiding all unnecessary risks and just wants to get the car back to the pitlane in one peace and get a place from the grid for tomorrow's race. S2 for Harding is much better than the first one as he is now 2.1 seconds behind Aparicio so he lost only 2 tenths on 2nd sector. Through very fast Blachemont corner which is taken flat out on dry, but on these conditions you have to lift off for sure. Small lock up on bus stop and Harding crosses the line, 2:04.362, that's 4.7 seconds slower than Aparicio did he lost 2.6 seconds on final, fast, sector.

Harding Finish Line 2 Sector 1 37.497 +1.924

2:04.362 +4.722 Sector 2 1:24.092 +2.120

Mihailovic

MMRT

4th car today is MMRT driven by Miodrag Mihailovic, can he challenge Aparicio's pole time? S1 for Mihailovic is 35.8 that's pretty good as he is only 3 tenths off Aparicio's sector time. Still very wet track, but it should be drying now quite quickly if there will be no more rain so the drivers who drive last on this sessions will have big advantage on drying conditions. S2 for Mihailovic is 1:21.9 and he is quicker than Aparicio by 32 thousands and sets new record for 2nd sector. Aparicio was flying on final sector, but can Mihailovic do the same? Through bus stop and over the line he goes and Mihailovic takes 2nd place, 2:00.186, that's just over half a second slower than Aparicio did.

Mihailovic Finish Line 2 Sector 1 35.893 +0.320

2:00.186 +0.546 Sector 2 1:21.940 -0.032

Keersmaekers

Woods Racing

Didn't Qualify - Can't Race

5 cars, but only 3 times. Cummings will be disqualified and Keermaekers didn't drive. Still 15 drivers to go, but before that we will have a short break, don't go away!

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Welcome back and weather here is all changed during the commercial break. We had short but heavy shower, but it has just stopped again. Track is very wet again and if things were getting better earlier, now we are back at the conditions we started with.

Group 2:

(Wilkinson, Wolner, Perkins, Lock, Nuti)

Wilkinson

Phoenix F1

Daniel Wilkinson will be first driver out in this group of 5 cars on very wet Spa Francorchamps track. S1 for Wilkinson is 38.226 seconds, that's over 2.6 seconds slower than Aparicio did so maybe the track is again more wet than it was with 1st group. S2 for Wilkinson is 1:26.260 and he is nearly 4.3 seconds off Aparicio's time. Looks like this qualifying will be real lottery with the weather. Wilkinson takes it carefully through Bus stop and crosses the line and takes 4th place being slowest so far, 2min05.345 seconds, that's 5.7 seconds slower than p1 holder Aparicio's time.

Wilkinson Finish Line 4 Sector 1 38.226 +2.653

2:05.345 +5.705 Sector 2 1:26.260 +4.288

Wolner

SCUM

Didn't Qualify - Can't Race

Perkins

Woods Racing

Phil Perkins and Woods Racing Toyota is next car on these tricky conditions. Phil looks to be taking things very easy through Eau Rouge and S1 time is 38.6, just over 3 seconds slower than Aparicio did. S2 time for Perkins is over 7.5 seconds slower, he is just cruising around the wet Spa-Francorchamps track and wants to get back to the pitlane in on peace. Perkins crosses the line, 2:11.301 and that is over 11.6 seconds slower than Aparicio did, but he made is safely back to the pits and will be in tomorrows race grid.

Perkins Finish Line 5 Sector 1 38.635 +3.062

2:11.301 +11.661 Sector 2 1:29.558 +7.586

Lock

JTM

Toby Lock and JTM are next to tackle these tricky conditions. Everything is possible on these conditions, but looking the last 2 laps I don't think he can challenge Aparicio's time as looks like the track is much wetter than it was 15 minutes ago. S1 for lock is 37.4 and he is already over 1.8 seconds off the fastest time set by Aparicio who was out as 2nd driver today. S2 for Lock is 1:25.9 and he is nearly 4 seconds slower now. Lock goes nicely through the Bus stop and crosses the line and takes 5th place at the moment with lap time of 2:06.201 which is 6.561 seconds slower than leader Aparicio set.

Lock Finish Line 5 Sector 1 37.448 +1.875

2:06.201 +6.561 Sector 2 1:25.930 +3.958

Nuti

JTM

Didn't Qualify - Can't Race

We will have 2nd short break now, don't go far as we will be right back!

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Welcome back to follow F1VWC qualifying on wet Spa-Francorchamps track. This time it didn't rain during our short commercial break, so maybe the conditions are getting better after all, but we will have to wait and see what happens. There are much very dark clouds everywhere so it can rain in any moment now.

Group 3:

(Whiteman, Tanskanen, Loram, Koski, Irisarri, McConkey)

Whiteman

EIRE

Next driver on the track is very interesting to watch. Scott Whiteman who lost his 2nd place on drivers standings to Steve Elencevski after Scott failed to finish the race at Hungary while Steve won it. Now Scott is on 3rd place but only 3 points behind Elencevski so it is far from over between those two. S1 for Whiteman is slowish 39.535, he is nearly 4 seconds off the fastest time there. S2 and now he is over 8.3 seconds off Aparicio's time, looks like he is just taking it easy and decided not to risk anything on these conditions. Whiteman crosses the line and goes to 7th at the moment, but nearly 13 seconds slower than poleman.

Whiteman Finish Line 7 Sector 1 39.535 +3.962

2:12.557 +12.917 Sector 2 1:30.344 +8.372

Tanskanen

Mapes-VO

Juha Tanskanen is still loaned from FinOz Racing to Mapes-VO as Matt Maple failed to take part to this event. He already missed the Hungarian GP and it is not sure when he will be back. Tanskanen sets S1 time of 36.525 seconds and that's 0.952 from the fastest through there. S2 shows Tanskanen has lost a lot more to Aparicio and he now trails by 4.5 seconds, but still a lot faster than, 3rd placed on drivers champ, Scott Whiteman tough. through Bus stop chicane and over the line he goes and Tanskanen takes 6th place, 2:06.370 and that is 6.7 seconds off the pole time.

Tanskanen Finish Line 6 Sector 1 36.525 +0.952

2:06.370 +6.730 Sector 2 1:26.458 +4.486

Loram

EIRE

Ross Loram is next man on the track, his teammate is way down on 8th place at the moment as we get information that there was some rain during Whiteman's lap and he backed off then just to avoid spinning into gravel. S1 for Loram and he is flying! 35.739 and he is only 0.166 seconds off Aparicio's pace, but can he keep it up for the remaining of the lap? S2 for Loram and he is now in front! Only by 44 thousands, but still, can he take p1 from Aparicio? Through Bus stop chicane without any drama and Loram crosses the line? and goes 2nd. He was fast but not fast enough, 1:59.996 and that's only 0.356 seconds slower than Aparicio's p1 time was, but the Spaniard still holds on.

Loram Finish Line 2 Sector 1 35.739 +0.166

1:59.996 +0.356 Sector 2 1:21.928 -0.044

Koski

FinOz

Blue and White FinOz Racing colors are next on track as Kari Koski starts his flying lap. He had miserable race at Hungary and after race press conference Kari was hoping better things for this event, don't think he hoped for the weather like this tough. S1 for Koski and he sets new sector record there! 34.870 and that's over 7 tenths quicker than Aparicio did! S2 for Koski and he is really flying there 1:19.134 and over 2.8 seconds quicker than Aparicio, looks like the Spaniard will lose the p1 now. Through Bus stop and over the line Koski goes and takes p1 by 3.7 seconds! What a lap from the FinOz Racing driver, 1:55.872 is new poleposition time.

Koski Finish Line 1 Sector 1 34.870 -0.703

1:55.872 -3.768 Sector 2 1:19.134 -2.838

Irisarri

Phoenix F1

Antonio Irisarri and Phoenix F1, can he challenge Koski's laptime? S1 for Columbian is 36.297 and that's over 1.4 seconds slower than Koski just did. Meanwhile we get interesting information from the pitlane. Our reporter out there says Koski was using intermediate tyres and also McConkey and Irisarri are using the same tyres. That could explain the speed Koski had, if the track is so much better than some time ago. S2 for Irisarri is 1:22.082 and he is nearly 3 seconds off the pace, if he is using same tyres as Koski was, looks like he can't get the advantage of those tyres compared to full wet's. Irisarri goes over the line and takes 2nd 1:59.328, but nearly 3.5 seconds slower than Koski and beats Aparicio by 3 tenths.

Irisarri Finish Line 2 Sector 1 36.297 +1.427

1:59.328 +3.456 Sector 2 1:22.082 +2.948

McConkey

MMC Racing

Now last man on this group is MMC-star Ryan McConkey who is out with Intermediate tyres, can he challenge Koski's pole time? Track is drying out all the time every lap made and conditions are better and better. S1 for McConkey is good as he sets new record there 34.582 and he is nearly 3 tenths quicker than Koski was. 2nd sector is very long on this track and after that we will know much better how fast he is going. S2 time for McConkey is amazing 1:17.914 and he is over 1.2 seconds quicker than Koski was! Ryan is really pushing the car to the limit on the damp track. Now into final corners and into slow Bus stop chicane which he takes nicely without any problem and accelerates over the line and take the p1 by 8 tenths over Koski. 1:55.032 is new pole time with 6 drivers still to go?

McConkey Finish Line 1 Sector 1 34.582 -0.288

1:55.032 -0.840 Sector 2 1:17.914 -1.220

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Welcome back and guess what? it's raining again! With 6 cars to go on todays Belgium GP qualifying session and it's raining again, this could mean Ryan McConkey will start from pole position for tomorrows race and alongside him will be Kari Koski.

Group 4:

(Brown, Frueh, Sleight, Ryan, Jakonen, Elencevski)

Brown

Simsoa

David Brown tackles the first sector on his Simsoa car, time is 36.658 and he is already over 2 seconds slower than McConkey was, so it really looks like Koski and McConkey were very lucky today as they were able to make their laps using intermediate tyres and now it's raining again. S2 for Brown is 1:23.160 and he is over 5.2 seconds off the pace now. Todays qualifying sessions has been real lottery with the weather and we sure have very interesting grid for tomorrow's race! Brown goes over the line and he goes to 7th place, his time 2:01.733 was 6.7 seconds slower than poleman McConkey did.

Brown Finish Line 7 Sector 1 36.658 +2.076

2:01.733 +6.701 Sector 2 1:23.160 +5.246

Frueh

Puma F1

Didn't Qualify - Can't Race

Sleight

MMC Racing

McConkey's teammate Paul Sleight wasn't as lucky as McConkey was and he has to make his qualifying run under moderate rain. S1 for Sleight is 36.634 and he is just over 2 seconds off McConkey's pace. S2 for Sleight is 1:22.680 and he trails now by 4.7 seconds, he is half a second quicker than Brown was and Brown is currently on 7th place, so Sleight could take that place from him now. Through the Bus stop chicane and over the line goes and yes. Sleight takes 7th from Brown.

McConkey, Koski, Irisarri, Aparicio, that's the top-4 with 3 drivers to go.

Sleight Finish Line 7 Sector 1 36.634 +2.052

2:01.505 +6.473 Sector 2 1:22.680 +4.766

Ryan

MMRT

It is now raining very heavily as Kieran Ryan starts his qualifying lap. On this event he is driving at MMRT team. Kieran has just signed the contract with Phoenix F1 for the 2005 season. S1 for Ryan is 37.742 and he is nearly 3.2 seconds off McConkey's pace. S2 is now completed for MMRT driver and he is over 8.7 seconds behind now and track is getting wetter and wetter all the time. Ryan goes over the line and he goes down to 13th place, 2:07.169 and that's over 12.1 seconds slower than Ryan pole time. Now I'm quite sure McConkey will start from poleposition for tomorrows race and Kari Koski alongside him at the front row.

Ryan Finish Line 13 Sector 1 37.742 +3.160

2:07.169 +12.137 Sector 2 1:26.697 +8.783

Jakonen

Mapes-VO

2 to go, Championship leader Mikko Jakonen and 2nd placed, Hungarian GP winner, Steve Elencevski. S1 for Jakonen is quite good considering these conditions he is only 2.159 seconds off McConkey's pace, but I think he will in the trouble at the long sweeping corners at the 2nd and final sector. S2 time for Jakonen is 1:26.1 and he is now over 8 seconds behind, can he get into top-10 still? Through bus stop and over the line he goes and Jakonen takes 12th place, 2:05.810 is 10.7 seconds slower than lucky McConkey's poletime. It sure will be interesting start as we have these fast drivers on the middle of the grid.

Jakonen Finish Line 12 Sector 1 36.741 +2.159

2:05.810 +10.778 Sector 2 1:26.103 +8.189

Elencevski

FinOz

Last man today on the track is Steve Elencevski. Steve started form pole at the Hungary fortnight ago and lead most of the race and took his 2nd win of the season. Today in these conditions he can't get anywhere near the top of the grid and will have big challenge tomorrow to repeat his Hungarian GP success. S1 for Elencevski is tenth slower than Jakonen did and Jakonen is down on 12th place at the moment. S2 for the Australian is much better than Mapes-VO star just did as Steve is only 6.8 seconds off the pace and he is 1.3 seconds quicker than Jakonen was after 2 sectors? Now through Bus stop and over the line he goes and Elencevski takes 9th place. Great lap from him under these conditions to take 9th on the grid. But it's party time at MMC Racing as Ryan McConkey will be on the pole for tomorrows race!

Elencevski Finish Line 9 Sector 1 36.838 +2.256

2:04.193 +9.161 Sector 2 1:24.767 +6.853

Summary

Ryan McConkey was lucky today with the weather and after superb lap on drying conditions he was able to take pole positions in front of FinOz Racing Kari Koski who like McConkey was able to drive his lap on better conditions than most of the pack. Some very fast drivers on the middle of the grid like Elencevski and Jakonen, meanwhile drivers championship standings 3rd placed Scott Whiteman was left down on 17th place! Sundays race looks to be dry so race will be very interesting when conditions are totally different than today.

1 McConkey 1:55.032

2 Koski +0.840

3 Irisarri +4.296

4 Aparicio +4.608

5 Loram +4.964

6 Mihailovic +5.154

7 Sleight +6.473

8 Brown +6.701

9 Elencevski +9.161

10 Harding +9.330

11 Wilkinson +10.313

12 Jakonen +10.778

13 Lock +11.169

14 Tanskanen +11.338

15 Ryan +12.137

16 Perkins +12.269

17 Whiteman +17.525

18 Cummings penalty

Frueh didn't drive

Nuti didn't drive

Wolner didn't drive

Keersmaekers didn't drive

Poleposition development

Aparicio Finish Line 1 Sector 1 35.573

1:59.640 Sector 2 1:21.972

Koski Finish Line 1 Sector 1 34.870 -0.703

1:55.872 -3.768 Sector 2 1:19.134 -2.838

McConkey Finish Line 1 Sector 1 34.582 -0.288

1:55.032 -0.840 Sector 2 1:17.914 -1.220