Natacha Gachnang - Portimao in Formula Le Mans and Radical 02.08.2009: The Hope Pole Vision Racing team has carried out early summer testing in Formula Le Mans, Radical and Formula Lista, and everybody is determined to continue its successful start to the 2009 season

 The Hope Pole Vision Racing team has carried out early summer testing in Formula Le Mans, Radical and Formula Lista, and everybody is determined to continue its  successful start to the 2009 season including Natacha Gachnang who rejoined Hope Pole Vision in the first weekend in August, on the magnificent new Portimao circuit in the Algarve in Portugal.

In her marathon, jumping from the wheel from her Formula Le Mans to the wheel of her  Radical SR5for Switzerland based team Hope Pole Vision Racing, Natacha Gachnang had a few occasions of being in front whether qualifying or Podium finishes: Switzerland's female driver Natacha Gachnang was 2nd in Formula Le Mans Qualifying and also finished  in the points race 1 of the Formula Le Mans. She was pleased to finish 8th overall, after the pit stop, after her team-mate had a problem, spinning with the car after a gearbox problem.

In Radical SR5, Natacha Gachnang's qualifying positions were respectivly 20th for Q1 and 12th for Q2. She finished 2nd of her category in race 1.

Natacha Gachnang commented, "It was a long weekend as I arrived on Wednesday already as the practice sessions were scheduled as early as Thursday over four days as our last races are on Sunday. In the end, it has been a really busy weekend for me and a unique experience. Overall, my engineer told me I was extremely fast on the Radical and improved a lot my times, so I was satisfied to finish in second position.

I suppose I drove the most kilometers than anyone else this weekend. The level in each category is pretty high. I am very pleased to have had so many occasions under very hot sun. So hot, that some of the races where shortened. That is where training and hydration pay off. It is then not too difficult to remain focused. I like especially turn 7 which is quick downhill to the right. A very nice and challenging turn.

In Formula Le Mans, I must admit I had a bad start and dropped to fifth in the first race, but then I was able to keep up and I was lapping consistently and was the fastest driver of the weekend. We were unlucky after the pit stop, when my team mate lost a bit of time following a gearbox problem where the gearbox was malfunctioning. Overall a good day except for our truck driver who broke his foot in the paddock.

It is not a big team so Andy my mechanics even helped the tyre washing. Let's hope that tomorrow will be another good day.


Formula Le Mans and Radical SR5 at Portimao -

Natacha Gachnang Races 1: 2nd today

Formula Le Mans, Free Practice 1 (car nr 18) - 3rd place 1.41.716

Formula Le Mans, Free Practice 2 (car nr 18) -5th place 1.41.088

Formula Le Mans, Qualifying practice 1 (car nr 18) -2nd place 1.43.408

Formula Le Mans, Race 1 - Finish Position 8 (car nr 18) with a best time of 1.40.850

Formula Le Mans, Qualifying practice 2 (car nr 18) -9th place  1-41.194

Radical SR5 (car nr 60) Free practice General  - 11th place 1.51.408

Radical SR5 (car nr 60) Qualifying practice 1 - 20th place 1.54.302

Radical SR5 (car nr 60) Race 1 - General Finish Position 13 - Best time 1.48.910

Radical SR5 (car nr 60) Race 1 - Finish 2nd   category SR5

Radical SR5 (car nr 60) Qualifying practice 2 - 12th  Best time 1.51.180



- Agnes Carlier -  photo Natacha Gachnang