Downton team boss Bradley Downton has explained how a faulty clutch mechanism on the car of Klaas van Snelheid caused the Dutchman's slow start in the South African V-Prix. The pole man appeared to barely move off the line as the lights went out, with Adrien Simon already ahead before both cars had crossed the chequered start line and the four cars lined up immediately behind van Snelheid - including team mate Matteo Zetticci in third - noticeably pulling out from behind him in an effort to avoid a collision.
With a long run to turn one, the slow getaway proved even more costly, with Ruiz able to put himself alongside van Snelheid before the first braking zone of turn two, and muscle his way around the outside into second. "Unfortunately our race came undone a bit with the botched start," Downton explained after the race. "The clutch mechanism on Klaas' car stuck, and so the car didn't move until around a second after he released it. By that point, Adrien was already past, Enrique was motoring, and Matteo was so conscious of running into his team mate that he backed out rather than tried to go around him. He admitted inexperience probably played a part in that, but that's all part of the learning process." Downton recovered during the race to finish with two cars on the podium in second and third - ahead of Adrien Simon, who pitted one lap later than his medium shod rivals but lost considerable time behind backmarker Thierry Xylander. "We're delighted to take a double podium, absolutely," Downton added. "But it's just a shame that such a small issue ended up costing both cars, especially after the excellent work both drivers had done to get themselves into those positions amongst the Mathershaw Porsche cars in qualifying. We don't know exactly what happened yet - the guys and girls will take it all apart and investigate and we'll try and make sure it doesn't happen again."
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