Frustation at EuroSpeedway
15.05.2006 by Harry Hogge
Joey was left frustrated at Lausitzring over the weekend after more impressive performance for the HS Technik Lola team in the Reeacro German F3 Cup. The highly rated Brit is making a big name for himself on the continent this year as Autosport's respected journalist, Marcus Pye, alluded in his weekely column for Autosport in the 4th May issue (page 91). After qualifying second on the grid for the first race, the winner of races at both the previous rounds in Oschersleben and Hockenheim, looked set to make it a hat-trick of wins as he harried fellow Lola driver Ho-Pin Tung in the early stages.
However, the tight and sinuous Lausitzring track near Berlin is famous for its limited overtaking opportunities and despite best efforts Joey had to settle for runners-up spot on this occasion.
"I made a reasonable start and got close to Ho-Pin," said the 23 year old racer. "But it is almost impossible to overtake cleanly here. But six points for second place was good for the championship, as was the fastest lap of the race which is worth an extra point."
For race two, Joey lined up on pole position which he secured comfortably early on Sunday morning. A blistering start saw the 2003 Formula Ford Festival winner lead in to the first corner where he quickly opened up a good cushion to the chasing Tung, who despite best efforts, could not keep up with the "Truro Terrior."
Luck however was just not on Joey's side this time, as with just 5 laps remaining he felt something tighten at the rear of his Lola.
"The driveshaft went and that was it," he said, quite plainly gutted. "The win was done and dusted and I was just cruising, maintaining the gap. It is just bad luck but these things do happen and you just have to keep focused and hungry which is exactly what I am doing. In a way it is unfortunate because I could have been seven points in front in the series points table and now I am three behind. But I am still confident and positive because we proved again we are consistently the quickest out there."
"We will come back stronger at the Nurburgring in two weeks time. The team are great and the Lola is really nice to drive so confidence is sky high at the moment."
Lola's F3 engineer Adam Airey was highly complimentary on Joey's driving so far this year, saying: "He has proved on circuits new to him and in a car that is also new to him that he is a real talent. We have run some very good drivers in the last few years and Joey stacks up very well against them. I am sure that if he continues in the same vein as he has so far, then he will be champion this year."
However, Joey's programme this year is dependent on raising the necessary budget to continue in the car. With the possibility of racing in the F3 Euroseries next season commercial investment in his future career cannot come a moment too soon.
Joey will next be in action at the venue of the recent European Grand Prix on May 27-28.
RACE ONE RESULTS
| 1 | Ho-Pin Tung (PRC/NL) | JB Motorsport Lola-Spiess | 25m05.968s |
| 2 | Joey Foster (GB) | HS Technik Lola-Spiess | 26m06.928s |
| 3 | Renger Van Der Zande (NL) | Seyffarth Dallara Mercedes | 26m10.455s |
| 4 | Nicolas Hulkenburg (D) | JK Racing Dallara Spiess | 26m13.401s |
| 5 | Harald Schlegelmilch (LAT) | HS Technik Dallara-Spiess | 26m13.422s |
| 6 | Riccardo Azzoli (I) | Target Racing SLC-Spiess | 26m13.899s |
| 7 | Marcello Thomaz (BRA) | Swiss Racing Dallara-Spiess | 26m15.215s |
| 8 | Cyndie Alleman (CH) | SMS Seyffarth Dallara-Mercedes | 26m15.355s |
| 9 | Johannes Theobald (D) | Seyffarth Dallara-Mercedes | 26m15.661s |
| 10 | Hiroyuki Matsumara (JPN) | Swiss Racing Dallara-Spiess | 26m16.088s |
Fastest Lap: Joey Foster (GB) HS Technik Lola-Spiess 1m18.628s
RACE TWO RESULTS
| 1 | Ho-Pin Tung (PRC/NL) | JB Motorsport Lola-Spiess | 23m51.715s |
| 2 | Nicolas Hulkenburg (D) | JK Racing Dallara Spiess | 23m53.869s |
| 3 | Ferdinand Kool (NL) | JB Motorsport Lola-Spiess | 24m01.615s |
| 4 | Harald Schlegelmilch (LAT) | HS Technik Dallara-Spiess | 24m05.549s |
| 5 | Riccardo Azzoli (I) | Target Racing SLC-Spiess | 24m06.488s |
| 6 | Hiroyuki Matsumara (JPN) | Swiss Racing Dallara-Spiess | 24m14.031s |
| 7 | Cyndie Alleman (CH) | SMS Seyffarth Dallara-Mercedes | 24m16.892s |
| 8 | Salvatore Gatto (I) | Target Racing SLC-Spiess | 24m17.582s |
| 9 | Ronny Wechselberger (D) | Prinz Dallara-Spiess | 24m17.823s |
| 10 | Natacha Gachnang (CH) | Bordoli Dallara-Spiess | 24m18.181s |
CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS AFTER 4 ROUNDS
| 1 | Ho Pin Tung (PRC/NL) | 41pts |
| 2 | Nicolas Hulkenburg (D) | 39pts |
| 3 | Joey Foster (GB) | 38pts |
| 4 | Ferdinand Kool (NL) | 29pts |
| 5 | Renger Van Der Zande (NL) | 25pts |