Sobue ‘Top Seed’ at eSIC

Axon’s Akio Sobue has got his debut with the new TC10/4 off to a strong start as the Japanese driver topped seeding at the Electric Singapore International Challenge (eSIC).  After drivers woke to rain this morning in Singapore, once the track dried out and the first official laps of the event where completed it was Sobue who laid down the fastest 3-consecutive laps ahead of Xray’s Alexander Hagberg. Separated by 4/10ths of a second over the 3-laps, Sobue’s fastest around the RCMC track a 13.695, unfortunately Hagberg’s run would be cut short as he found the circuit’s dreaded bump on the straight.  Sending his car flying off the track, the impact means the Swede will miss the opening qualifier as he rebuilds his car.  Completing the Top 3 would be Jan Ratheisky, the German visitor 7/100ths faster than pre-race favourite & team-mate Nicholas Lee, the Singapore driver struggling with a set-up change he made for seeding.

‘Completely different to yesterday’, was Sobue’s reaction after topping the times.  The former TITC Champion added, ‘I mean the traction is completely different and the line I had to drive was different compared to yesterday.  Some inside lines are still dusty so it was difficult to find a good line’.  While his Swedish rival didn’t compete the full run, Sobue feels the former World Champion has found extra pace saying, ‘Today Alex is faster.  I think 3-laps for me is fast but over 5-minute I think it is super close with Alex.’  Having changed his set-up based off his expectations of this morning’s track conditions, Sobue thinks now that the track will have even more time to dry he will revert back to yesterday’s set-up for Q1.

‘That wasn’t good.  The car flew on the bump on the straight and hit the wall and it is now completely destroyed’, was Hagbrerg’s summary after the single seeding round.  Prior to his off, he said his package was ‘not too bad in terms of pace’, adding ‘the track didn’t feel all that different to yesterday even though it was after raining.  The car just needs a bit more steering but I was pretty happy with the car.  I will try and repair it and see, I am definitely not going to have time to run Q1 because the car is needing some repairs.’  He concluded, ‘with some small adjustments for Q2 I hope to be competitive.’  Team-mate Ratheisky appeared to have no issues with adjusting to the track saying, ‘for me it was a little more slippery which I technically super like cause I have more steering.  Everything worked so I can’t complain about anything and I will leave the car the same for Q2.’

Lee described his seeding run as ‘not very good’.  The most experienced among the record field with two eSIC podiums to his credit, he explained, ‘it was drizzling a little bit during the run so I had no grip.  Also though, I did some changes which I think were worse so I will revert back to the same set-up as yesterday.’  Behind Lee the Top 6 was completed by the the Axon of Hayato Ishioka and Schumacher of Atsushi Hara.  With the move to July not having the desired positive weather effects, more forecast overnight/morning rain has forced the the organisers to push through with trying to get all four rounds of qualifying in today so as to leave tomorrow’s schedule free for just finals.