Problems for Tielemans on first day

It has been a troublesome start of the weekend for the leader in the Independants Trophy. Dutchman Olivier Tielemans ended his day in tears, as problems forced him to change his engine. Luckily for him the friday tests are not considered as a official test, so the driver won’t be penalised.

The problems for the Dutch driver started after coolant started to leak from his engine and the liquid ended up on his rear tires. Tielemans lost control of the vehicle and ended the session in the gravel trap.

“During my tenth lap I drove over the main straight as all of a sudden the rear if my car stepped out. I spun into the gravel trap, forcing me to end the session prematurely”, Olivier said after the test.

“The car stepped out because the cap that has to hold back the coolant flew off. Apart from that the powershift broke as well, so I could have gone a lot faster.”

As the cap that holds the coolant could not be recovered from the track, Tielemans now has to change his engine. “Tomorrow I will get the new engine, just like Pierre Yves Corthals and James Thompson will”, Tielemans continued to say. “I’m glad that it’s all happening now, and not tomorrow, or I would have gotten a penalty for changing the engine.”

The lack of time on the track however cost him valueable time, as he had little chance to get the set up of his car right.