MONACO (MC) MAY 21-24-2015 – Grand Prix de Monaco 2015. Philo Paz Patrick Armand #39 Pons Racing. Action. © 2015 Diederik van der Laan / Dutch Photo Agency / LAT
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It was not an easy qualifying session for the team Pons. Alex Fontana has done its job very well finishing ninth in his group while Philo Paz Patric Armand was involved in a rather violent contact at the entrance of the swimming pool complex. The Swiss racer, who was driving on a street circuit for the first time in his career, has steadily improved his lap times. Unfortunately the weekend of Monaco is very special compared to the normal format of the category, with a single free practice, one qualifying and one race, which certainly does not favour a debuting driver. Fontana however was 100 percent committed. He saved the car and clinched the ninth row. Armand made a mistake in the first part of qualifying hitting the barriers after five laps and could not continue. A real shame as the free round had left good hopes to get an interesting result.
Philo Paz Patric Armand: Qualification Group A – P10 – 1’34 “213
“I am extremely sad for what happened. I started qualifying too aggressively and in my second lap I made a mistake entering the swimming pool corner hitting two, three times the guards at high speed. It ‘s been very fast and I did not understand exactly what had happened at the beginning. Then the stewards and doctors came while I was in the cockpit, and once they understood that everything was ok I got out of the car and I saw it was virtually destroyed. And in that moment I realized I had made the biggest accident of my career. The mechanics have to work a lot, but I am sure that will be able to give me the perfect car for the race and although I will start last, I will try to give my best. ”
Alex Fontana: Qualification Group B – P9 – 1’26 “167
“Friday a little problem on my car was discovered regarding the fuel pump and that penalized me on the straights, but today the car was perfect. I continued in my attempt to make more small steps without overdoing it. Unfortunately, a yellow flag out for three laps for a lost car part stranded on the track made me lose concentration and broke the rhythm. In the end I improved my lap time by 1″3 today and, compared to the second practice. I start from the ninth row, which is certainly not the best, but I realize it’s just a matter of driving. I’m happy, it’s been so far a great experience considering that I have never raced on a street circuit. “