Monaco to make start despite fire

Date published : 03 May 2009 - 12:17:14

A1 Team Monaco will take up its front-row starting spot for the feature race at Brands Hatch, despite a fire in this morning's sprint race.Clivio Piccione was the only mechanical retirement from the sprint, just after his mandatory pitstop, when an electrical component in the wiring loom burnt out and triggered a brief fire that required extinguishing by marshals.Despite worries that serious damage may have been caused to the Ferrari engine, Piccione is adamant it will be fixed in time."I was just exiting the box after my pitstop when I felt the car had a problem," he said. "I stopped and got out, and saw the flames. I'm sure we'll be ok for the feature race, though. The guys have said it will be fine."Piccione will start alongside pole-sitter Adam Carroll, who only needs to finish fifth in this afternoon's race to seal the title for Ireland.