Ocean Racing Technology may have put in by far their best performance of the season in the Spa-Francorchamps feature race, but there were mixed feelings amongst their drivers after a technical glitch ruined Johnny Cecotto's race coming out of the final corner.
Series returnee Brendon Hartley finished a fine fifth on his race debut with the team, scoring the Portuguese squad their first points of 2011 despite starting from back in 11th. His position on the reverse grid for the sprint race leaves him optimistic of a better result there.
“I had a perfect start, which let me move up several places,” said the Kiwi. “In the first few laps, I had to adapt to the car's behaviour on a dry track, but I managed to stay up front.
“I think that we did a great job as a team and I am happy to bring Ocean its first points. By starting from fourth position on the grid in the second race, I hope to be able to fight for a podium.”
Unwilling to let his new teammate steal all the glory, Cecotto went all-out to score his first point of the year, taking what he thought was eighth and pole position for the sprint race during the final lap of the race. However, his car switched into safety mode coming out of the final chicane for the last time and he fell to 11th place with the checkered flag in sight.
“I lost and recovered places in the first lap,” said the German-born Venezuelan racer. “Unfortunately, the safety car came onto the track but I managed to recover eighth position in the last lap. I should have been starting from the pole position tomorrow, but the car switched itself to safety mode in the last corner and I found myself in 11th. Obviously, I am very disappointed.”