Adrian Quaife-Hobbs sets sights on winning reversed-grid race as well after Algarve Auto GP race one triumph
Super Nova's Adrian Quaife-Hobbs is keen to complete a double victory in Algarve's reversed-grid race on Sunday after equalling Lotus Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean's record of four Auto GP victories in a season in Saturday's race one
Quaife-Hobbs admitted his opening race tyre choice was influenced by a desire to maximise progress from Sunday's reversed grid, from which he will start eighth. The championship leader was the only driver to start on used, medium compound, Kumhos.
"I am still after that double win," said Quaife-Hobbs. "We just missed out in Hungary, and from tomorrow's reversed-grid I am going to need to make a long stint at some point. That's part of the reason we did the gamble to run on used mediums today."
The decision to mount used rubber was made easier after Quaife-Hobbs demonstrated consistent frontrunning pace; topping Thursday's test and recording his fourth Auto GP pole position on Friday.
"We felt we had a large enough pace advantage to do so, and now we can use a brand new set of medium tyres tomorrow," continued Quaife-Hobbs. "If in race two I used new softs, I would probably have to pit at halfway like today and perhaps spend the race in traffic. Last night there was a long discussion, as we were really expecting to suffer a large amount of graining, but we took the gamble and so far it has paid off."
A change of wind direction at the Algarve track between Friday's Auto GP practice and race assisted Quaife-Hobbs' ability to stretch out the life of his tyres.
"The wind has changed directions and there is now a lot more grip in the last corner, and I think that is saving the tyres," explained Quaife-Hobbs. "Yesterday we were sliding a lot through there, while now we're quite stuck. I think that is putting less load through the tyre now. However, the first time we ran a race set-up all weekend was in the race."
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