Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/187071
54 Sport maltatoday, SUNDAY, 6 OCTOBER 2013 FORMULA 1 Vettel powers to pole position in Korea RED Bull's Sebastian Vettel continued his brilliant recent run of form by beating Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton to pole position in Yeongam on Saturday afternoon. The world championship leader's first run in Q3 yielded a lap of 1m 37.202s and Hamilton was unable to get any closer than 0.218s to the German, handing Vettel his sixth pole position of the season and the 42nd of his career. The other Red Bull of Mark Webber was third quickest, but he will start 13th following the ten-place grid penalty he earned in Singapore for accumulating his third stewards' reprimand of the season. Unusually, many runners went for the supersoft tyres as early as Q1, where Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen used them to go fastest on 1m 38.341s. Hamilton and Vettel elected not to use them, and ended up sixth and seventh respectively. Further back Force India's Paul di Resta was lucky to get through as he lost time in the final sector behind the Marussia of Jules Bianchi. He lapped in 1m 39.185s, but fortunately for him that kept him well ahead of Williams' Valtteri Bottas, who was the first runner not to make Q2 with 1m 39.470s. The Finn was followed by team mate Pastor Maldonado on 1m 39.987s. Then came the Caterhams, with Charles Pic narrowly out-qualifying Giedo van der Garde, 1m 40.864s to 1m 40.871s. On the final row of the grid Bianchi outpaced Marussia team mate Max Chilton, but it was close: 1m 41.169s to 1m 41.322s. In Q2 Vettel set the pace with 1m 37.569s, as Sergio Perez turned the tables on McLaren team mate Jenson Button when the latter came up behind Raikkonen's Lotus. The Mexican lapped in 1m 38.362s and will start 10th, with the Englishman just three-thousandths of a second slower. Gutierrez, the final runner through to Q3, had lapped in 1m 38.327s. Daniel Ricciardo will start 12th for Toro Rosso having clocked 1m 38.417s, whilst his team mate JeanEric Vergne was 16th fastest in the sister car on 1m 38.781s. The Force Indias separated them, with Adrian Sutil 14th on 1m 38.431s and Di Resta 15th on 1m 38.718s. In Q3 Vettel laid down the gauntlet on his first run with a 1m 37.202s, ahead of Webber, Hamilton, Lotus's Romain Grosjean and the other Mercedes of Nico Rosberg. On their second runs, Grosjean grabbed fourth with 1m 37.531s, whilst Rosberg failed to better his first run time of 1m 37.679s and Webber aborted his final lap when he made a mistake. But Hamilton was as game as ever and trimmed down to 1m 37.420s to take second place. The moment he realised he wouldn't be beaten, Vettel backed off from his second run to save tyres. Ferrari's Fernando Alonso was sixth fastest on 1m 38.038s with team mate Felipe Massa right with him on 1m 38.223s but only just ahead of Nico Hulkenberg who impressed again for Sauber on 1m 38.237s. His team mate Esteban Gutierrez was also impressive with ninth quickest on 1m 38.405s, whilst Raikkonen was tenth on 1m 38.822s. With Webber's penalty taken into account, the grid lines up thus: Vettel, Hamilton; Grosjean, Rosberg; Alonso, Massa; Hulkenberg, Gutierrez; Raikkonen, Perez; Button, Ricciardo; Webber, Sutil; Di Resta, Vergne; Bottas, Maldonado; Pic, Van der Garde; Bianchi, Chilton. SAILING Another record entry for Rolex Middle Sea Race 2013 109 yachts from 18 different countries have entered the 2013 Rolex Middle Sea Race, which is set to eclipse the record entry of 82 yachts competing last year. The race is the most prestigious international sporting event in Malta and thousands of people will be watching the start from the magnificent limestone bastions, high above the Grand Harbour, which will be televised live on Maltese Television and a huge worldwide audience of race fans will visit the Rolex Middle Sea Race web site, as the drama unfolds. In 2009, the Royal Malta Yacht Club moved to a new purpose built premises, located right on the water in Ta' Xbiex Marina. Extensive mooring facilities are available at the club and close by and with three extensive al fresco terraces, a lounge bar, restaurant and conference rooms, the Royal Malta Yacht Club is expecting a record attendance at the club, as well as out on the 630 mile race course. The 2013 Rolex Middle Sea Race will be the largest ever gathering hosted by the Royal Malta Yacht Club since it was established in 1835. Probably the biggest attendance will be the Rolex Middle Sea Race Crew Party. 2000 members, competitors, as well as guests from overseas and the Maltese community are expected to attend. "The club will be exceptionally busy before and after the race, with this in mind, the club staff and members have been preparing for the influx of visitors and we are all excited by the prospect of welcoming so many guests to the Royal Malta Yacht Club. We are absolutely delighted with the enormous international interest and we will offer everyone a warm welcome and all the assistance we can during their stay." Confirmed Godwin Zammit, Commodore of the Royal Malta Yacht Club. "The design of the club really lends itself to a large party, as there are open areas on several levels allowing the crew party crowd to spread out giving a quieter area or a busy dance floor, whatever is the preference. Everyone at the club is really looking forward to the race, I think that it is proving so popular because we have seen more and more people wanting to coming back to do the Rolex Middle Sea Race again and again. The race is popular with a wide variety of people, professional sailors, passionate amateurs, both young and old. For overseas visitors, many of them are coming here from colder countries, so the weather in Malta is very attractive, as well. We are determined to make sure that all of the competitors receive a Maltese welcome that they will never forget." Key Dates 16 October - On the water action begins with the Rolex Middle Sea Coastal Race 17 October - Crew Party hosted by the Royal Malta Yacht Club 19 October - The start of the Rolex Middle Sea Race in Malta's spectacular Grand Harbour Fast, Reliable, Economical 24Hrs Service Best Prices Discounts for Account Holders Car, Vans & Coaches SILVER CABS, No.4, Margaret Mangion Street, Paceville, St. Julians STJ 3180 Tel: +356 21 389 575 24Hrs Mob: 9921 5286 Freephone: 800 73770