Andrea Montermini and Bertrand Gachot reported a lot of oversteer after completing first qualifying here in Aida, both drivers setting lap times in the 1.22s bracket - well short of the potential as shown by Andrea's lap time of 1.20.926, set after only three flying laps in this morning's untimed practice session.
Bertrand Gachot, who has replaced Jean-Denis Deletraz, had to cope with the additional problem of having not driven a Formula One car since finishing 12th for Pacific in the British GP at Silverstone in July. His return to the cockpit was brought to an abrupt halt this morning when the front brakes locked and the car went off into the gravel after two laps.
In qualifying Bertrand improved his lap times steadily, despite the oversteer problem, but he admitted to feeling a little 'rusty'. Andrea completed only one qualifying run at the end of the session, but the oversteer which he had reported this morning had actually worsened - leaving him over a second slower than his earlier time.
ANDREA MONTERMINI - 23rd - 1.22.096
"The car was very difficult to drive today because there is massive oversteer which means that I lost a lot of time in the corners. It was not just power oversteer, but even in the corners, so obviously my engineer Humphrey (Corbett) and I will have to work out the right way to go on set up for tomorrow. I am sure that we can qualify around the top 20."
BERTRAND GACHOT - 24th - 1.22.710
"It has been difficult to drive today because I have come back to Formula One without a test, and in fact I didn't even know for sure that I would be driving again until yesterday! The car had oversteer, but I think that until I am driving again well there will be a lot of time to come from me. It's good to be back driving again - let's hope we can sort out the best set up for tomorrow."
Pacific Grand Prix
First Qualifying, 20 October 1995