Caterham Racing Valencia Preview

Valencia, Spain

Thursday 21st June

Four weeks after the team’s double podium success in Monaco, Caterham Racing has now arrived in Valencia ahead of the European Grand Prix, taking place from 22nd - 24th June and aiming to add to the team’s points tally as the series reaches the halfway mark on the 2012 race calendar.

The Valencia street circuit is the second road race to feature this season and offers a very different challenge to Monaco. The demanding course consists of 25 corners, more than any other circuit on the calendar, making it difficult to overtake and once again placing the importance on a strong qualifying result in what will be very hot conditions.

Caterham Racing Team Manager Phill Spencer: "The team’s performance in Valencia last year was very good and with both our drivers coming here off the back of a strong result in Monaco I feel we have some positive momentum. We are always full of optimism going into every event but perhaps a little more here than anywhere else. The weather, the track, the drivers - they all work the way we like to operate here but obviously time will tell and qualifying well will be crucial. After a nice three week break at home the team are all anxious to get on and do a good job."

Rodolfo Gonzalez: “I have been breathing new air since Monaco and I hope we can keep the momentum going here in Valencia. We had a good result but I have put that behind me and I am fully focused on doing a good job this weekend. I have not always had the best luck here but I intend to change that this season and am looking forward to getting out there and giving it my best shot.”

Giedo van der Garde: “I am really looking forward to this weekend. I lived in Valencia last year and have always liked it so it kind of feels like coming home. I had a really good race here last season - it’s a tricky track, quite technical but I like it a lot. The car is in good shape so I hope we can challenge for another podium in race one and perhaps again in race two! It’s going to be very hot but I have been doing some hard training in the heat since I arrived on Monday so I feel well prepared. Bring it on!”

Caterham Racing Chief Engineer Humphrey Corbett: “The track here is quite smooth and heavy on braking so we will need good stability and traction. For the drivers it is very stop start here, with slow corners and very little chance of overtaking so you race where you qualify, making the qualifying session all important. I feel confident we can get both our drivers up there this weekend. Giedo was very quick here last year and the team performed very well here, we learnt a lot last season so we have no excuses! We know the circuit and the optimum set ups and I expect us to perform well and, overall, I am quietly confident we can put in a good couple of races.”