Pål Varhaug Racing » News http://palvarhaug.com Auto GP Driver Fri, 18 May 2012 17:27:54 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 MONACO GRAND PRIX F1/GP2 http://palvarhaug.com/monaco-grand-prix-f1gp2/ http://palvarhaug.com/monaco-grand-prix-f1gp2/#comments Fri, 18 May 2012 17:27:54 +0000 atleg http://palvarhaug.com/?p=1616 GP2 teamet RAPAX tilbyr meg sete i Monaco!

Løpet går parallelt med Formel 1. Hele bilen står til disposisjon for reklame i Monaco Grand Prix for de rette sponsorer. Dette er en super mulighet for sponsorer og for meg til å komme inn i Formel 1 sirkuset i år til en rimelig pris. For å kunne kjøre i Monaco neste helg trenger jeg en sponsor eller investor for å dekke kostnadene til løpet. Løpet vil bli sendt på tv over hele verden, og sponsorer kan få gratis paddock pass til dette løpet om det er av interesse. Kontakt meg snarest om noen har interesse for denne muligheten. Jeg er uansett veldig glad for at jeg er ønsket inn i GP2 fra flere team og at mulighetene er der.

Er det noen som vil ha litt show i Monaco. Ring meg omgående

]]> http://palvarhaug.com/monaco-grand-prix-f1gp2/feed/ 0 Victory in Hungaroring! http://palvarhaug.com/victory-in-hungaroring/ http://palvarhaug.com/victory-in-hungaroring/#comments Fri, 11 May 2012 13:47:44 +0000 atleg http://palvarhaug.com/?p=1611 The weekend in Hungaroring has been very exciting. In race 1, on Saturday, I started in P3. After the two first corners I was up on a P2, behind Sirotkin. In the end of the first lap I got in front of Sirotkin and was leading the race. I closed the gap into the last corner, so Sirotkin couldn’t get room to pass. This seemed to be too frustrating for Sirotkin, as he lost his head into the last corner, and went inside on the pit lane entrance and jumped into me and crashed me out of the track. Still I managed to get into the track and finish my race. My car got pretty damaged by this collision. My front wheels was crooked. My steering wheel was turning to the right over the straights, and I had under steering into all right corners, and the car was quite unstable into all left corners. Even though, Sirotkin damaged my car pretty bad, I am pretty happy with the results, as I dropped down to P9, and advanced to P5 in the end of the race with a broken car. A P5 in this high level of racing is very good, so a P5 with a broken car is a result I am pretty happy with.

Race 2 was the most exciting one. I was starting on P4 on the start grid. My front soft tires was burned out and broken after the first race, as a result of a damaged car. This gave me a disadvantage. So I started the race with medium tires in front and soft tires in the rear. I got a good start, and was soon into P2, behind Cipriani with Quaife-Hobbs in P3 behind me. This went on till lap 7, where I managed to overtake Cipriani and advance into P1. Then it was a matter between me and Adrian Quaife-Hobbs. All the race I had him in the mirrors, not always close, but always in sight. Both me and Quaife-Hobbs went for a quite late pitstop. I strategically went later to have more laps on the soft tires. I got a perfect pitstop, which gave me an even better gap from Quaife-Hobbs, but I had to go very slow through the first corner with my cold and slippery tires, so Quaife-Hobbs closed up. It was intense driving the rest of the few laps in the race. Sometimes I had to drive very defensive, but eventually I got a good gap, and became the winner in Race 2. My second win this season.

Thank you to everybody who has helped me get to this point. Thanks to my team Virtuosi UK for doing a great job, you guys are the best. Thanks to my manager and father, Jardar Varhaug and my family, for helping me to get to this point in my career. Thanks to all my sponsors who has helped me get the opportunity to drive at this high level of racing. Thank you so much to all my fans and supporters, you have really given me an extra boost for this race. It was great to reach over 3000 likes right before the race on my facebook page, and it was great to personally meet a lot of fans in Hungary. This has been an awesome weekend! Just fantastic! J

Race 2 on Hungarian(VIDEO): http://video.racing.hu/VideoItem.aspx?viID=1000546209

Highlights from the weekend(VIDEO): http://autogp.org/en/video.php

Article from team Virtuosi UK: http://www.virtuosiracing.com/news

]]> http://palvarhaug.com/victory-in-hungaroring/feed/ 0 The Hungarian Ring! http://palvarhaug.com/the-hungarian-ring/ http://palvarhaug.com/the-hungarian-ring/#comments Sat, 05 May 2012 06:13:41 +0000 atleg http://palvarhaug.com/?p=1607 This weekend it is time for my fourth round in Auto GP World Series. This time the racing will happen on the legendary Hungaroring circuit in Budapest, Hungary. I have raced on Hungaroring many times before. I have won races in Formula Renault here, and the last years I have been racing Formula Master, GP3 and GP2 on this circuit. Hungaroring is a circuit often associated with Monaco, because of its many corners and short straights. It is a very technical circuit, it is an exciting circuit, and it is a circuit where anything can happen in a race. Personally I like this circuit, so I am looking forward to race here.

 

On Friday I started of first test with a P9, where I drove most of the run on medium tires, instread of softs. The second test I tested more soft, and got a P3. And on qualifying I got a P3. So today in Race 1, I will start on P3 on the start grid:) The weather has been great so far, and both me and team Virtuosi UK is ready for racing! ;) Race 1 will start at 10.15 (19 laps, LIVE on Eurosport and Eurosport UK)

]]> http://palvarhaug.com/the-hungarian-ring/feed/ 0 Video of race 1 in Marrakech http://palvarhaug.com/video-of-race-1-in-marrakech/ http://palvarhaug.com/video-of-race-1-in-marrakech/#comments Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:36:53 +0000 atleg http://palvarhaug.com/?p=1555 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXyq3kw_IGg

]]> http://palvarhaug.com/video-of-race-1-in-marrakech/feed/ 0 Varhaug slowed by debris in Marrakech http://palvarhaug.com/varhaug-slowed-by-debris-in-marrakech/ http://palvarhaug.com/varhaug-slowed-by-debris-in-marrakech/#comments Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:00:29 +0000 atleg http://palvarhaug.com/?p=1548 From autogp.org: Pål Varhaug was among the Auto GP top-runners throughout the whole Marrakech
weekend. Headed for a dominant victory on Saturday, the Norwegian driver of
Virtuosi UK stalled his car after the pit-stop but despite that he clinched a
3rd place finish that keeps his title aims intact. Pål was again very consistent
in the Sunday race keeping the 3rd spot for most of the distance, but after the
halfway mark Ricci and Quaife-Hobbs started closing the gap and eventually got
on his tail, leading to the last chicane fight that ended in a post-race penalty
for Varhaug.
Today, thanks to Virtuosi UK, we learned more on what happened:
Pål’s charge was hampered by debris collected on track, and not a little one! A
rear wing lower flap left on track by a previous crash got stuck under his car,
obstructing the undertray area and causing serious balance issues that
inevitably slowed his pace.
Team manager Andy Roche praised his driver
for managing to bring the car home with a competitive pace despite that issue:
“Pal yet again amazed us in the second race on Sunday: he had really good
pace and was on course for another podium, something that we believe he would
have clinched if it wasn’t for that big chunk of debris which wedged itself
under the front of the car. This upset the car balance enormously causing a lot
of understeer, and ultimately enabled Quaife-Hobbs and Ricci to close in on him.
Under the circumstances the whole team was so impressed with Pål’s performance
and believe he achieved an outstanding result; we look forward to Hungary where
hopefully he will be able to shake this bad luck”.

]]> http://palvarhaug.com/varhaug-slowed-by-debris-in-marrakech/feed/ 0 Watch Marrakech race 2 on Eurosport on the web http://palvarhaug.com/watch-marrakech-race-2-on-eurosport-on-the-web/ http://palvarhaug.com/watch-marrakech-race-2-on-eurosport-on-the-web/#comments Sun, 15 Apr 2012 13:07:35 +0000 atleg http://palvarhaug.com/?p=1544 Here is a website that shows eurosport on the web:

http://www8.livetv.ru/webplayer2.php?t=alieztv&c=1876&lang=en&eid=114261&lid=50798&ci=557&si=7

This site works good for watching the laptimes:
http://www.mstworld.com/timing/livetiming.htm?series=WTCC-SUPPORT

Race 2 in Marrakech starts at 15.30 (3.30 pm) today (Sunday)

]]> http://palvarhaug.com/watch-marrakech-race-2-on-eurosport-on-the-web/feed/ 0 Podium in Marrakech race 1 http://palvarhaug.com/podium-in-marrakech-race-1/ http://palvarhaug.com/podium-in-marrakech-race-1/#comments Sat, 14 Apr 2012 19:23:44 +0000 atleg http://palvarhaug.com/?p=1539 In race 1 in Marrakech, Morocco, I started in P2 on the starting grid. After the lights went off, I got a good start and got in to the lead in the first corner. The first laps I had some problems getting heat into my tires fast enough, so it was tough to keep in front of Campana, but after a few laps, my tyres got enough heat in the tires the situation improved lap after lap. I started building a gap, and managed to keep an easy controlled lead.

I stayed in the lead from the start to the 12th lap, before I went in for my pitstop. In the pitstop I did a mistake and stalled the car, and the team had to restart my engine. This caused me to lose too much time in the pit lane, where I came out from the pits in P3. In the end I finished in 3rd position and got a podium. Stalling my car in the pits, took away my victory, but still a third place is a good result. I am taking the positives out of today. We were really quick today, and we have lots of potential. And there is another race tomorrow where we have the opportunity to make the most out of it.

Tomorrow I will start in P6, and I am ready to overtake cars;)

 

]]> http://palvarhaug.com/podium-in-marrakech-race-1/feed/ 0 Power start in Morocco! P2 on qualifying! http://palvarhaug.com/power-start-in-morocco-p2-on-qualifying/ http://palvarhaug.com/power-start-in-morocco-p2-on-qualifying/#comments Sat, 14 Apr 2012 02:35:17 +0000 atleg http://palvarhaug.com/?p=1521 Round 3 in Auto GP World Series is located in Marocco, on the streets in Marrakech. This is the fourth street circuit I have driven on, where I have driven on the streets of Pau, Monaco and Valencia before. I actually visited Morocco and Marrakech when I was a child, so it is pretty cool to come back here to drive in Marrakech.

On the first practice I got a P5. The track was like I expected from a street circuit, but a little more bumpy than before. The car was well balanced and worked great. And I felt I got a good first practice. I could have gone faster if it wasn’t for the traffic, but it was a good run.

On the second practice I got a P2. A very good result, but still had some traffic to deal with.

On the qualifying I got a P2! I very good result, only 0,078 seconds behind Sirotkin which got P1. To start in the first row on race 1 is very good, especially on a circuit where overtakings are hard to make. I felt I had more to give. My best laptime was not a perfect one. I had a better one on the run, but was hindered by a red flag, and I didn’t get time to use my second set of supersoft tyres, before the red frag. I am pretty happy with the results. I feel I have more to give, and I am really looking forward to go full throttle tomorrow! ;)

 

]]> http://palvarhaug.com/power-start-in-morocco-p2-on-qualifying/feed/ 0 Winner of Race 2 and championship leader! http://palvarhaug.com/winner-of-race-2-and-championship-leader/ http://palvarhaug.com/winner-of-race-2-and-championship-leader/#comments Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:21:49 +0000 editor http://palvarhaug.com/?p=1514 After a great Race 1 with a 2nd place on Saturday in Race 1, I was really happy for the great start on the season.

On Sunday, I started from P7. I pushed and overtook driver after driver. Almost one driver each lap, till I was on P2 close to P1 before the pit stop. Most drivers took the pit stop at the same time, but my team Virtuosi UK, did a better job than the other driver’s team with a faster pit stop, and I advanced to P1 out of the pit lane.
After the pit stop I pushed till I got some distance, and drove safe the rest of the race till I finished in P1, and became the winner of Race 2, the second race in the first round of Auto GP World Series 2012.

This was amazing, this weekend was perfect. It was really good to win, and to be on the top of the podium. Being second on Saturday was really awesome, as my first race in Auto GP World Series. But winning on Sunday was just a fantastic feeling! Excellent job from the team!

With my results this weekend, I am leaving Monza as the leader of Auto GP World Series with 38 points.

 

]]> http://palvarhaug.com/winner-of-race-2-and-championship-leader/feed/ 0 The first Round, The first Race, The first Podium! http://palvarhaug.com/the-first-round-the-first-race-the-first-podium/ http://palvarhaug.com/the-first-round-the-first-race-the-first-podium/#comments Sat, 10 Mar 2012 17:27:27 +0000 editor http://palvarhaug.com/?p=1506 Great start on my first race this year! After a problematic start on the weekend here in Monza with different problems on the first two practice rounds on Friday, we managed to fix the problems and set a P4 on the qualifying. On the race today I started on the grid in P4 and advanced quickly to P2, but got passed by Campana shortly after. After me, Campana and Quaife-Hobbs where fighting closely on the top most of the race. I decided to make an earlier pitstop than Campana and Quaife-Hobbs, to try to make a better strategic pitstop choice. But we did a small mistake in the pits that delayed me a couple of seconds. I finished in P3, with Adrian Quaiffe-Hobbs in P1.

After the race, Campana and his teammate were penalized because their team changed just the front tires in the pit stop, when the rules are that we have to change our rear tires.
This resulted to a P2 for me in the first race of 2012! A podium on my first race of the season, is a great start on the season! And a great result on my first race in an Auto GP car! Many thanks to a great job from my team Virtuosi UK! I am very happy, and are looking forward to tomorrows race.

Drivers Championship standings

1. Quaife-Hobbs, 26 points
2. Varhaug, 18 points
3. De Jong, 15 points
4. Regalia, 12 points
5. Van der Drift, 10 points
6. Ricci, 8 points
7. Snegirev, 6 points
8. Spavone, 4 points
9. Serenelli, 2 points
10. Campana and Sirotkin with 1 point

Race 2 can be seen live on Eurosport tomorrow at 11.30.
Referance:
http://autogp.org/en/news.php?id=0614

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