The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : Sutil hopeful of changing the ‘back of the pack’ scenario

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Tuesday, Mar 03, 2009
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Sport - Racing : Motor

Sutil hopeful of changing the ‘back of the pack’ scenario

Kunal Diwan

— Photo: AFP

Sutil.

Jerez de la Frontera: A wet, wet Monday at the Circuito de Jerez and the first thing that catches your eye are his long spindly fingers. He places them meticulously on the table and waits for a race car to skid past the press lounge before speaking.

“I am not used to driving in such conditions. The weather has not been ideal and a new car obviously requires a break-in period. We’re just hoping it will clear up so we get some decent runs in place,” says Force India’s Adrian Sutil, who forsook tinkering with keys of ivory for, as he states expressively, “more excitement” on the race track.

Music’s loss

“I played the piano till I was around 12 and gave public performances with my parents. It took one visit to the track for me to give up playing the piano professionally.”

Born to musician parents, Sutil is in Jerez for Force India’s pre-season testing, and his team yet to get its first points on the circuit — has had a damp squib of a start to the testing sessions.

With inclement weather reducing the Ciruito de Jerez to a hazardous slush pit, the unveiling of Force India’s spanking new VJM02 vehicle has been clouded by circumstances beyond human control.

“There is nothing one can do about this. But I spoke to Giancarlo (Fisichella) and he told me that the car was handling well…though there were some issues with the fuel system.”

Sutil throws another glance at the darkened horizon and furrows his brow. He has another four days — two in Jerez and another couple in Barcelona next week — to get used to the new car before the season roars open with the Melbourne Grand Prix later this month.

The 26-year-old German entered Formula One a couple of years ago banking on successes in the Formula BMW and Formula III series. With a zilch netted from 35 races, the drive since has been a hard one.

“It’s tough to always start at the back of the pack…that makes it all the more difficult to drive and overtake. I am hopeful of changing that this season.”

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