BMW aim to make up for lost ground

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Sunday 5th October 2008

BMW are keen to bounce back at the Japanese Grand Prix after they were cruelly denied a possible podium finish in Singapore last weekend.

Robert Kubica appeared to be on course for a podium when the Safety Car was deployed. With fuel reserves running out, the Pole had no option but to pit while the pit lane was closed. He was handed a 10-second stop-go penalty and eventually had to settle for ninth place.

Kubica is now 20 points behind Lewis Hamilton in the Drivers' Standings while BMW are now 15 points adrift of McLaren in the Constructors' Championship.

Team boss Mario Theissen hopes the Hinwil-based squad will have better luck at the Fuji track.

"After our unlucky experience with the Safety Car regulations in Singapore - the second time this season - which lost us important points, we aim to make up for lost ground in Japan," he said.

"In the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships the leaders are bunched close together, which promises plenty of excitement for the remaining races."

Willy Rampf echoed Theissen's sentiments and says they will continue to make modifications to the car.

"Robert has lost a bit of ground in the Championship, but the pace in Singapore was not too bad under normal circumstances, and Robert for sure would have scored a good amount of points (were it not for the safety car incident)," he told Autosport.

"We will continue though. We will try to have at least small modifications and updates for the next races and hope to get closer to the top. We are not far away, not the team and not Robert as our leading driver."