18.10.2003  'IT WAS A REAL NIGHTMARE': QUALIFYING REACTION FROM THE AUTODELTA TEAM
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Roberto COLCIAGO: “It looks like this was the worst qualifying of the season for the team. However, in Monza, even if you have a bad qualifying, you can do something good in the races. So we need to remain concentrated. I hope that both, Gabriele (Tarquini) and Nicola (Larini) will be able to recover and gain as many points as possible. It´s normal that the atmosphere in the team is not happy, but we have to be confident and wait until after the races. Because everything can happen.”

Monica SIPSZ: “It was a real nightmare. We lost Fisichella right at the beginning and the Larini and Tarquini at the same time as soon as the session resumed. I’m terribly sorry, but there was nothing we could do to control the situation. The team did their job, preparing the cars in the proper way. Then when they are out of the garages, it’s up to the drivers, luckily Tarquini’s car is unscathed. We will work all night to repair the other two; it will take a lot of work to rebuild Larini’s. I don’t know yet if it will be possible to do the same with Fisichella’s car, as it was nearly broken in two.”

Giancarlo FISICHELLA: “I’m very upset. My ETCC debut couldn’t be more unlucky. I had a gearbox problem in the first practice, in which I was supposed to make some experience. In the second session I managed to complete three or four good laps, which were enough to set a good lap time. I was sixth at the time, and I knew I could have improved a lot. I came in for new tyres, but on my fist lap I lost the back of my car at the Parabolica and finished stranded in the gravel. I went out for qualifying with only a few laps in the practice, and again, on new tyres, I lost the car at the Ascari. I oversteered, but the car swung and hit the barrier. I’m so sorry for me and for Alfa. I really hope they will be able to repair the car, because I desperately wish to race.”
Paolo Ruberti in the Clever Cats Alfa Romeo 156GTA had a strong qualifying session at Monza
James Thomson steered clear of trouble to set fourth fastest time in qualifying