This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jul/18/susie-wolff-german-grand-prix-williams-hockenheim-felipe-massa

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Susie Wolff comes through engine scare in F1 grand prix test run Susie Wolff comes through engine scare in F1 grand prix test run
(about 1 hour later)
Ultimately, as first practice at Hockenheim drew to a close it rated as a success for Susie Wolff, who completed 22 laps and finished 15th on the timesheets. But, for moments just after the track went hot, she must have suffered a sickening moment in the car, not through an accident but at the realisation of a potentially crushing disappointment.Ultimately, as first practice at Hockenheim drew to a close it rated as a success for Susie Wolff, who completed 22 laps and finished 15th on the timesheets. But, for moments just after the track went hot, she must have suffered a sickening moment in the car, not through an accident but at the realisation of a potentially crushing disappointment.
Heading out on her installation lap, for the second grand prix in succession her role as a test driver for Williams looked like it would be cut short with mechanical problems. Wolff managed only part of that out lap before having to nurse her car back to the pits.Heading out on her installation lap, for the second grand prix in succession her role as a test driver for Williams looked like it would be cut short with mechanical problems. Wolff managed only part of that out lap before having to nurse her car back to the pits.
Two weeks ago at Silverstone the British driver was bitterly disappointed when she became the first woman to take part in a Formula One race weekend for 22 years, only to have the engine of her Williams, which was running toward the end of its expected life, give out after four laps.Two weeks ago at Silverstone the British driver was bitterly disappointed when she became the first woman to take part in a Formula One race weekend for 22 years, only to have the engine of her Williams, which was running toward the end of its expected life, give out after four laps.
Here, she was just into that first lap when she reported to the team that the car was stuck in gear and that she had an oil warning on the dashboard. However, Wolff successfully returned the car to the Williams garage and no doubt to her relief, the team managed to return her to the track only minutes later. Here, she was just into that first lap when she reported to the team that the car was stuck in gear and that she had an oil warning on the dashboard. However, Wolff successfully returned the car to the Williams garage and, no doubt to her relief, the team managed to return her to the track only minutes later.
“I had a little bit of a worry at the beginning to get back to the pits because of a problem, but as soon as they said ‘okay, we can fix it’, I thought ‘oh, thank goodness,’” she said. “It all felt fantastic, the team did such a good job in getting me ready for today, and it felt so good to be out there, to be pushing and to finally be doing a proper session.” “I had a little bit of a worry at the beginning to get back to the pits because of a problem, but as soon as they said: ‘OK, we can fix it,’ I thought: ‘Oh, thank goodness,’” she said. “It all felt fantastic, the team did such a good job in getting me ready for today, and it felt so good to be out there, to be pushing and to finally be doing a proper session.”
She was equally satisfied to have completed the full hour and a half behind the wheel and hopeful it would have positive effects on women in motorpsort: “I think if me being out there today was inspirational to just more than a couple of women or girls watching then I think it is a step in the right direction.” She was equally satisfied to have completed the full hour and a half behind the wheel and hopeful it would have positive effects on women in motor sport: “I think if me being out there today was inspirational to just more than a couple of women or girls watching then I think it is a step in the right direction.”
Wolff’s fastest time during a session aimed at aero and mechanical tests and set-up work was a 1min 20.769 secs run, a gap of 1.638 secs behind the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg who topped the timesheets and who was in turn six-hundredths of a second clear of team-mate Lewis Hamilton. But she finished only four places behind her team-mate Felipe Massa, and importantly only just under three-tenths of a second back from the Brazilian. Wolff’s fastest time during a session aimed at aero and mechanical tests and set-up work was a 1min 20.769sec run, a gap of 1.638 behind the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg who topped the timesheets and who was six-hundredths of a second clear of his team-mate Lewis Hamilton. But she finished only four places behind her team-mate Felipe Massa, and importantly only just under three-tenths of a second back from the Brazilian.
A full assessment of the run will really only be possible in relation to the times the team will have been looking at and the tasks she was expected to complete but earlier this season she was 0.3 secs quicker than the time she had been set by the team when completing 55 laps on her way to running fifth fastest at a test in Barcelona. A full assessment of the run will really only be possible in relation to the times the team will have been looking at and the tasks she was expected to complete but earlier this season she was 0.3 quicker than the time she had been set by the team when completing 55 laps on her way to running fifth fastest at a test in Barcelona.
Claire Williams, the deputy team principal was certainly happy with Wolff’s session. “She did a great job today,” Williams said. “She had a full session, which was important after Silverstone that was so disappointing for her. It was great to see her out on track, clocking up a number of laps and also some competitive times as well. Claire Williams, the deputy team principal, was certainly happy with Wolff’s session. “She did a great job today,” Williams said. “She had a full session, which was important after Silverstone that was so disappointing for her. It was great to see her out on track, clocking up a number of laps and also some competitive times as well.
“She was working through a comprehensive mechanical testing programme, so we’re really, really happy, she did a good job for us. She was within three tenths of Felipe and that’s what we were expecting.”“She was working through a comprehensive mechanical testing programme, so we’re really, really happy, she did a good job for us. She was within three tenths of Felipe and that’s what we were expecting.”
Before Wolff’s run here and at Silverstone, the last female driver to take part in race weekend was Giovanna Amati, who ran three qualifying sessions in an uncompetitive Brabham in 1992 but the last woman to compete in a race was the Italian Lella Lombardi at the Austrian GP in 1976. Before Wolff’s run here and at Silverstone, the last female driver to take part in race weekend was Giovanna Amati, who ran three qualifying sessions in an uncompetitive Brabham in 1992, while the last woman to compete in a race was the Italian Lella Lombardi at the Austrian GP in 1976.
Fernando Alonso was third fastest, followed by Daniel Ricciardo, Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel.Fernando Alonso was third fastest, followed by Daniel Ricciardo, Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel.