Rangers’ bid to win the inaugural Superleague Formula Championship struggled to get off the starting line when the team’s 750bhp, V12 race car failed to turn a wheel in anger in the season’s first official test at Donington Park.
The setback left the team’s driver, Wishaw-born Ryan Dalziel, frustrated but optimistic the team will have the car up and running in time for the final test at the Leicestershire circuit next Thursday.
“I got a call, just five minutes before I was set to head for the airport to catch the plane to the UK, telling me not to bother because the car wasn’t ready,” Dalziel, who had been scheduled to jet in from Orlando, explained from Florida.
“It’s disappointing and means we’re going to have to play catch-up at next week’s test which is only three days before the opening race at Donington.
“It’s hugely frustrating because I was really looking forward to driving the car at Donington yesterday and getting some race-pace laps in, but if it isn’t ready, it isn’t ready.”
The 26-year-old Scot though did receive good news from the team which confirmed the car had finally completed its shakedown and installation laps, in the hands of English driver Dominic Jackson, late in the day at the circuit.
Dalziel, who has forged a highly impressive racing career in America driving in the Toyota Atlantic Championship, Champ Cars and most recently Grand-Am, will return to Donington next weekend (Aug 30/31) for the season’s opener.
Rangers will be joined on the 20-car grid by cars representing Liverpool and Spurs, as well as cars backed by the likes of AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven, FC Porto and Olympiacos.
JM