03 Nov Podium-finish for Kuba Giermaziak in season finale
Kuba Giermaziak claimed another podium-result in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup’s season finale in Abu Dhabi. The Polish VERVA-Driver converted his strong qualifying-performance into a third place in the first race on the modern Yas Marina Circuit. On Sunday he finished sixth. His team-mate Patryk Szczerbinski crossed the finish-line on positions 18 and 16.
Already in qualifying Kuba Giermaziak set the cornerstone for his third podium-result of the season: In the heat of Abu Dhabi he secured the third starting position for the first run. The talented young driver had a good start into the race and could defend his third position without any problems. But in the last laps it became a real thriller, because his follower Ben Barker kept the 23-year-old under immense pressure. “That was the toughest race of the year for me. Ben stuck like glue to my bumper and it was extremely hard to fend off his attacks,” he reported afterwards. “But we had already found a great set-up for the car in qualifying.”
Therefore Kuba Giermaziak managed to bring the third place safely home. Just a little bit more than two weeks after the tragic death of Sean Edwards all drivers were still shocked. “Emotionally it was not easy. It’s very painful to have lost a great colleague and friend in Sean,” the Pole described. To show respect to Edwards the drivers refrained from spraying champagne on the podium and did not celebrate their results excessively.
In Sunday’s race Giermaziak had to start from position six. Already after a few laps he could take over the fifth place, but during the following safety car period his opponent Richie Stanaway caused quite some confusion. “I have no idea why he overtook me and another driver during the safety car period.” After 13 laps the man from Piaski finished in sixth.
His team-mate Patryk Szczerbinski already lost all chances for a top-result in qualifying. In the beginning of the session the youngest Supercup-Driver was in the top-half of the results. But his fastest lap was cancelled, because he did not respect the track limits according to the stewards. “On the second tyre set I was not able to improve enough,” said Szczerbinski. From starting positions in the back of the field the student could at least improve to positions 18 and 16. “All things considered it was a really difficult weekend,” he summarized.
The end of the event in Abu Dhabi also means the end of the 2013 Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. In the overall standings Kuba Giermaziak covers a respectable fifth place. Patryk Szczerbinski finished the season on position 16. In the team-championship the VERVA Racing Team became fifth.