Algarve Practice 3: Doornbos keeps Netherlands on top

Robert Doornbos

A1 Team Netherlands continued to set the pace in the final free practice session ahead of this weekend’s Vodafone A1GP Algarve.

Robert Doornbos set the fastest ever A1GP lap around the circuit with a 1m 30.115-second tour, nearly three quarters of a second quicker better than anyone else.

Teams are allowed to trial one complete ‘PowerBoost lap’ in advance of being allowed to use it in one qualifying segment this afternoon. Doornbos used his to perfection, to send shockwaves through the rest of the paddock with his pace.

“We continued where we left off yesterday," said Doornbos. “I was worried about the overnight rain but it turned out that on old tires we were strong. The quick lap was me getting used to the new PowerBoost system which is not something I’ve done before, and the car was good."

Ireland was second quickest, having recovered from being off the pace yesterday, who was just ahead of Switzerland’s Neel Jani.

The fourth team of the championship contending quartet, A1 Team Portugal, joined the leading runners in fourth, with home fans having high hopes going into this afternoon’s qualifying session.

Italy’s new driver Vitantonio Liuzzi was fifth, ahead of USA’s Marco Andretti.

A few drivers had incidents, with Brazil’s Felipe Guimaraes spinning early on in what was his first time on the track after the Brazilian car was repaired after yesterday’s rookie session shunt. Australia, Germany and Indonesia were among other teams to have minor incidents.

Results