Caterham not worried by Kovalainen engine failure

Caterham are unperturbed by Heikki Kovalainen’s engine failure in the first practice session yesterday, after the Finn suffered a spectacular engine blow up as he drove through the tunnel. The thick white smoke brought a premature end to the session, as the visibility within the tunnel was reduced to zero.

However, the engine in question was due to be replaced after the Thursday practice sessions’ anyway, as it had covered over 2,000kms. With this the case, Caterham aren’t particularly worried as they look ahead to tomorrows qualifying session. Heikki Kovalainen suffered a difficult second practice session as well, as the Finn out-broke himself through turn 5’s Mirabeau hairpin. Kovalainen subsequently switched off the car, as the reverse gear failed to engage to allow him to continue on track.

“Today’s practice sessions was ok for us, if a bit stop start with the weather in FP2.” Explained Mark Smith, Caterham’s Technical Director, “The new engine he ran in FP2 was due to go on his car tomorrow anyway, it had covered more than 2,000kms, so it really was not a big problem for us to see his morning session end that spectacularly! The team worked very well with Renault Sport F1 to make the engine change over lunch and Heikki was back on track about six minutes after FP2 began.”

Heikki Kovalainen’s team-mate Vitaly Petrov enjoyed a promising two practice sessions, with the Russian driver feeling confident ahead the race on Sunday. Unlike many of the GP2 drivers on the grid, Petrov has never won around the streets of Monte-Carlo.

“Both sessions were good for me today.” Said Vitaly Petrov, “This is one of the races where we need to make sure we’re there at the checkered flag and not make any mistakes, so having had a few laps in what will probably be the trickiest conditions all weekend I’m feeling good about the sessions ahead, and the race on Sunday.”

With the Monaco Grand Prix traditionally having a high attrition rate, Caterham could well score their first F1 World Championship point if lady luck swings their way come Sunday afternoon.

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