9:50 AM Fri 24 Apr 2009 GMT
There were mixed fortunes for the two Maritimo Australia boats in this afternoon's Edox Pole Position.
Maritimo 12, throttled by Peter McGrath and driven by Giorgio Manuzzi, built on this morning's qualifying to set a fastest lap of 02.52.06 and qualify seventh fastest.
Tom Barry-Cotter and Pal Virik Nilsen in Maritimo 11 however, suffered more teething problems with the new raceboat and did not manage to get on the racecourse. A sensor failure, which they could not fix on the pontoon, means that they will have to start from last place on the grid in tomorrow's Qatar Marine Festival Grand Prix.
Morning practice session report:
Team Maritimo Australia toiled away in this morning's practise with both boats struggling with their steering.
Maritimo 12, with Peter McGrath and Giorgio Manuzzi, finally posted some lap times after yesterday's trouble, but spun out of one of their laps. They had already posted a best lap time of 02.50.76 and if they can solve their steering issue they will have a shot at the top five this afternoon. 'It's like going round an ice rink in a forklift truck,' said McGrath of their steering problems.
Tom Barry-Cotter and Pal Virik Nilsen also found the steering problematic with Barry-Cotter saying: 'We hooked just about every other corner besides that one,' when asked about Maritimo 12's spin out. Their best time of 02.51.73 was a second slower than yesterday.
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