Robert Doornbos Korea race report

Dutchman Robert Doornbos could finally celebrate on podium thanks to the 3rd and 2nd position earned in the International Formula 3 Korea Super Prix, with the third fastest lap recorded around the Changwon Raceway. Last week Robert had a difficult weekend race in Macao, despite his good performance on the Asian track, due to two consecutive mechanical failures on his Menu's car (driveshaft and transmission) while running third.

Arrived in Korea with deep motivation Robert looked very smooth on the track, driving with speed and precision over the bumps of the Korean track and was able to set the 4th fastest time in both free practice sessions. After working with his team Menu Motorsport to get the best out of his car "Boss" put in his driving talent by qualifying 2nd of his group, after dominating the whole session. "In first qualifying the track was different and I couldn't get a best position than 5th," explained Robert "but we worked hard on the car and we found a good solution. I was the fastest in qualifying 2 since the beginning of the session with a 1:10.370 when Piquet pipped us just one a lap before the end and he grabbed the pole of my group. With 2nd best time of the even group, I could line up 4th on the grid. It was not bad and I was very confident because the car was good and I still had a new set of tyres to use for the race".

In leg1 Doornbos made a spirited start and climbed soon in 3rd position, place that he could cement by setting the 3rd fastest time and by managing his gap over James Courtney, Kubica, Lapierre, Rosberg and other talented drivers. "The car was well balanced and I could be fast" . With a car capable to fight for the victory, Robert pushed hard since the green lights of leg2, after converting his third into second. Driving with great determination on the tight corners and chicanes of the Korean Changwon raceway, Doornbos run race2 chasing race-leader Antinucci and stayed out of trouble to finally record a solid second place. "I knew that to make a good impression here I had to do it at the start, but the gap to Antinucci grew too quickly and I couldn't keep up with him," said Robert "I'm very delighted for my final 2nd place; there is no better race to finish on podium than in one of the two biggest international races" "I would like to thank my team Menu, for the excellent job done and for giving me a car capable to fight for victory, my sponsors and everyone that have supported me this season".

<pre> CHANGWON Raceway - CIRCUIT length: 3,014 km

COMBINED QUALIFYING TIMES -- 5th International F3 Korea Super Prix 1. Lewis Hamilton (Dallara 303-Mugen) - Manor - 1'09"989 2. Nelsinho Piquet (Dallara 303-Renault) - Hitech - 1'10"249 3. Richard Antinucci (Dallara 303-Renault) - Hitech - 1'10"196 4.Robert Doornbos (Dallara 303-Opel) - Menu - 1'10"370 (2nd of his group) 5. Robert Kubica (Dallara 303-Opel) - Target - 1'10"394 6. Tatsuya Kataoka (Dallara 302-Toyota) - Tom's - 1'10"432 7. James Courtney (Dallara 302-Toyota) - Tom's - 1'10"446 8. Adam Carroll (Dallara 303-Mugen) - Carlin - 1'10"511 9. Andrew Thompson (Dallara 303-Renault) - Hitech - 1'10"734 10. Fabio Carbone (Dallara 303-Renault) - Signature - 1'10"531 11. Paolo Montin (Dallara 303-Nissan) - Three Bond - 1'10"823 12. Cesar Campanico (Dallara 302-Renault) - Signature - 1'10"560 13. Nicolas Lapierre (Dallara 303-Renault) - Signature - 1'10"908 14. Danny Watts (Dallara 303-Mugen) - ADR - 1'10"644 15. Pierre Kaffer (Dallara 303-Toyota) - TME - 1'10"961 16. Nico Rosberg (Dallara 303-Mugen) - Carlin - 1'10"853 17. Alvaro Parente (Dallara 303-Mugen) - Carlin - 1'11"284 18. Katsuyuki Hiranaka (Dallara 303-Opel) - Prema - 1'10"895 19. Robert Austin (Dallara 303-Opel) - Menu - 1'11"439 20. Hiroki Yoshimoto (Dallara 303-Opel) - SRT - 1'11"610 21. Ernesto Viso (Dallara 303-Mugen) - Promatecme - 1'11"666 22. Naoki Yokomizo (Dallara 302-Opel) - JB Motorsport - 1'12"421 23. Ronnie Quintarelli (Dallara 302-Opel) - JB Motorsport - 1'12"356 24. Fairuz Fauzy (Dallara 303-Mugen) - Promatecme - 1'12"790 25. Gene Lee (Dallara 303-Mugen) - ADR - 1'14"231 26. Marco Bonanomi (Dallara 303-Opel) - Target - 1'12"817 27. Jin Woo Hwang (Dallara 303-Opel) - Prema - 1'14"424 28. Pedro Barral (Dallara 303-Opel) - SRT -- no time

COMBINED RACE RESULTS -- 5th International F3 Korea super Prix

1. Richard Antinucci USA Hitech Racing Dallara F302/3 Renault-Sodemo 27min 25.208secs (47laps) 2. Robert Doornbos NL Menu Motorsport Dallara F302/3 Opel--Spiess +1.982secs 3. Nelson Piquet Jnr BRA Hitech Racing Dallara F302/3 Renault-Sodemo +2.473secs 4. James Courtney AUS TOM's Dallara F302 Toyota-Tom's +3.001secs 5. Tatsuya Kataoka JPN TOM's Dallara F302 Toyota-Tom's +8.481secs 6. Robert Kubica POL Target Racing Dallara F302 Opel-Spiess +9.104secs 7. Cesar Campanico POR Signature Plus Dallara F302 Renault-Sodemo +18.291secs 8. Fabio Carbone BRA Signature Plus Dallara F302 Renault-Sodemo +21.209secs 9. Danny Watts GBR Alan Docking Racing Dallara F302 Honda-Mugen +21.789secs 10. Alvaro Parente POR Carlin Motorsport Dallara F302/3 Honda-Mugen +25.673secs 11. Nico Rosberg SF Carlin Motorsport Dallara F302/3 Honda-Mugen +25.780secs 12. Hiroki Yoshimoto JPN Swiss Racing Team Dallara F302 Opel-Spiess +39.410secs 13. Pierre Kaffer GER Superfund TME Racing Dallara F303 Toyota-Tom's +40.264secs 14. Katsuyuki Hiranaka JPN Prema Powerteam Dallara F303 Opel-Spiess +42.244secs 15. Rob Austin GBR Menu M'sport Dallara F302/3 Opel-Spiess +43.380secs 16. Marco Bonanomi ITA Target Racing Dallara F302 Opel-Spiess +52.997secs 17. Naoki Yokomizo JPN JB Motorsport/Inging Dallara F302 Opel-Spiess +54.841secs 18. Ronnie Quintarelli ITA JB Motorsport/Inging Dallara F302 Opel-Spiess +1lap 19. Nicolas Lapierre FRA Signature Plus Dallara F302 Renault-Sodemo +1lap 20. Paulo Montin ITA Three Bond Racing Dallara F303 Nissan-Tomei +2laps 21. Gene Lee KOR Alan Docking Racing Dallara F302 Honda-Mugen +3laps

DNF: Jin Woo Hwang KOR Prema Powerteam Dallara F303 Opel-Spiess 40laps Andrew Thompson GBR Hitech Racing Dallara F302/3 Renault-Sodemo 39laps Fairuz Fauzy MAL Promatecme Dallara F302 Honda-Mugen 35laps Ernesto Viso VEN Promatecme Dallara F302 Honda-Mugen 30laps Adam Carroll GBR Carlin Motorsport Dallara F 302/3 Honda-Mugen 28laps Lewis Hamilton GBR Manor Motorsport Dallara F302 Honda-Mugen 25laps

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