Team USA Out of Luck in Qualifying

Written by Team USA. Posted in Team USA News

Published on October 23, 1992 with No Comments

Oct 23, 1992
Fawkham, England – Valvoline Team USA encountered mixed fortunes today in qualifying for the Duckhams Formula Ford Festival & World Cup, as a total of 166 drivers took to the Brands Hatch “Indy” circuit in cool but dry conditions.
Tony Ave and Ashton Lewis Jr. both recorded sixth fastest times for their respective heat races. Neither, however, was happy with the performance of their cars.

Ave complained of inconsistent handling after recording a best time of 49.06s in his Van Diemen RF92. His problem was traced to a loose bolt in the front suspension. Ave, 23, from Hurley, Wis., had lapped at a very competitive 48.2s during a test earlier in the week.

“It’s disappointing because I know the car and I were capable of more than that,” said Ave, “but the race is tomorrow. I think we still have a good chance of doing well.”

Lewis recorded a virtually identical lap time of 49.08s for his heat race and will also start from row three on the grid. He, too, felt there was much more to come.

“The car was real loose today,” explained Lewis, 20, from Chesapeake, Va. “I couldn’t put the power down like I had been able to in testing. But we sat down after the session and figured out what we need to do to the car. I’m sure we’ll be fine for the race.”

Fastest of the U.S. contingent was guest driver Geoff Boss. The 27-year-old from Barrington, R.I., qualified a fine fourth fastest for his heat race in an identical red-white-and-blue Van Diemen RF92. Unfortunately, the car was found to be narrowly underneath the minimum weight in post-qualifying technical inspection. Boss will have to start his race from the back of the grid.

The fastest time of the day, 47.68s, was set by Denmark’s Jan Magnussen, although his car also failed a weight check and will be relegated to the back of the starting grid.

Photo: Tony Ave heads into Clark Curve at Brands Hatch

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