Sauber drivers looking forward to “special” Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Both Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez are looking forward to what will be a special Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend, as each driver holds particularly special memories of their motor sport career which occurred at the Yas Marina circuit. Both drivers will be striving to score points this weekend, after another disastrous race in India.

Since Kamui Kobayashi’s tremendous podium at his home race in Japan, the Hinwil-based outfit have struggled to return to the points with only one driver finishing at both the Korean and Indian Grands Prix, agonizingly just outside the points. However, at a track both Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez adore, the team is hopeful that a double points finish can be achieved after the 55-lap twilight race.

For Kamui Kobayashi, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is special as it was the venue for what was only his second race back in 2009, after making his debut for Japanese outfit Toyota at the Brazilian Grand Prix several weeks beforehand. The race was made all the more memorable as Kobayashi was able to score his first World Championship points with 6th, just ahead of his then team-mate Jarno Trulli.

“For me Abu Dhabi is a special race anyway because it was only my second Grand Prix back in 2009, and actually a very good one as I was able to score points.” Explained Kamui Kobayashi, “So I will go there with positive feelings. Something we need to bear in mind is that there are no GP2 cars running this year between our sessions, which means the track can be quite dusty again each time our sessions start.”

Sergio Perez has equally special memories from the Yas Marina circuit, as the Mexican driver first drove Formula 1 machinery around the track back in 2010 during the Young Driver Test. Previous to this test, Sergio Perez won the GP2 support event at the venue in dominant fashion, and hopes to score his first points since the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend.

“Abu Dhabi is a very special place for me. It was there where I jumped into a Formula One car for the very first time.” Said Sergio Perez, ahead of his 35th Grand Prix start this weekend. “This was only two years ago, but it feels as if this test took place ages ago. Time goes by very quickly in Formula One. I had worked so hard to get into this cockpit and I remember very well all the special emotions attached to that moment. It had been a great race weekend back in 2010 anyway, because I had won the GP2 race on Saturday by a good margin of over 20 seconds. In 2012 the Grand Prix will be one of my last races for the team which gave me the chance to get into F1. I will give my utmost to get a very good result.”

With Sauber still striving to catch Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship, it’s imperative that both cars finish within the points at this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. With neither teams scoring points at the Indian Grand Prix last weekend, the gap between the two remains at 20 points. Should Mercedes suffer another points-less race, then Sauber will have a perfect chance to reel in the German marque.

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