The
thirteenth Marlboro Masters event is being held again at the Dutch Zandvoort
circuit. Zandvoort’s Circuit Park, 25km from Amsterdam and close to the
sea, will this weekend build up through qualifying heats a crowning race
between F3 champions from around the world.
Also
on track have been the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro test driver pairing of
Luca Badoer and Felipe Massa as well as Moto GP stars Loris Capirossi and
Troy Bayliss, from the Ducati Marlboro Team. The motorcycle team have also
brought along a two-seater bike, ridden by the famous American biker Randy
Mamola.
Yesterday
49 F3 drivers took part in qualifying to decide the starting grid for tomorrow.
Thirty six drivers made it through the session.
Luca
Badoer and Felipe Massa put on a demonstration in two F2001 single-seaters.
‘For me it’s always a pleasure to come to Zandvoort’, said Luca Badoer.
He is also the holder of the fastest lap time (1.19.880) set last year
in the F2001. ‘This is now the seventh time for me: I have been here seven
times with Ferrari and in 1991 I took part in the F3 race. I like the atmosphere
and the setting is great.’
For
Felipe Massa it is his first Marlboro Masters. ‘I have never been involved
in an F3 race, I have only tested single-seaters here in Formula Renault
and
F3000’, the Brazilian revealed. ‘I am happy to be taking part; it will
be a lot of fun. I hope to also have the chance to see Amsterdam. I like
the circuit a lot, even if it is a demanding one where it is difficult
to spot the braking points given the constant ups and downs.’ |