15/07/2006
NEWS STORY
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Timo Glock has taken his maiden GP2 series victory in only his second race weekend for iSport International. The German took the chequered flag in today's race at Magny Cours from ART Grand Prix's Alex Prémat and Super Nova International's José María López. Championship leader Lewis Hamilton had to make do with just a single point for fastest lap after a nightmare afternoon which saw him finish 19th having been lapped by Timo.
José made a fantastic start from pole position and was followed into Turn 1 by Giorgio Pantano. Timo fell from second to third as Alex made a monster getaway from seventh to sit fourth. Behind the Frenchman, Adam Carroll and Lewis were battling for fifth when Lewis carried just a touch too much speed into the Adelaide hairpin and clattered the back of Adam's car. They would both be in for new wings (Lewis the front, Adam the rear) and their races were effectively run.
Up at the front, José was controlling the field brilliantly, pulling out a steady lead over Timo who had dispatched Giorgio early on. Nelson Piquet Jr had made his way up to sixth, and was the first of the leaders to pit on lap seven of 41. Three laps later and José, Giorgio and Alex all came in together, but a problem with José's rear left tyre saw the leader endure an agonisingly long stop as Alex emerged in front of both Giorgio and the Argentine.
Timo was the next man in from the front on lap 11, misunderstanding his team's directions and coming in on the lap intended for fifth-placed team-mate Ernesto Viso. The Venezuelan came in too, and sat behind Timo as the German took on new tyres and was back out again, effectively leading the race but with Olivier Pla, Xandi Negrão and Lucas di Grassi between himself and first spot on track.
With Nelson on his rear wing, Timo made an instinctive move on Olivier at the hairpin and was through and after Xandi, while Nelson found it harder to get by the Frenchman. Alex was now right with the Brazilian and passed him and Olivier in one move at the penultimate corner, nudging Nelson in the process. Xandi pitted on lap 18, but Lucas held on until lap 24 to take his compulsory stop after Timo had caught and passed him on that very lap.
José meanwhile was on a mission, and after an intense race he fought past his pitstop dramas to pass Giorgio and Nelson in two stunning moves that would net him the final podium slot behind the victorious Timo and home hero Alex. Nelson finished fourth, with Xandi a brilliant fifth after passing Giorgio who had to settle for sixth. Seventh spot went to Lucas with Ferdinando Monfardini taking eighth position and pole for tomorrow's race.
1st. Timo Glock – iSport International: The car was nervous, but pretty good. I saved the rear tyres and could push at the end. Lewis has shown you can win from eighth on the grid, so I have nothing to lose tomorrow. I'm here to win.
2nd. Alex Prémat – ART Grand Prix: It was a really good race and I had a great start. The car was really hard to drive, so I decided to save the car and drive for the championship. I'm just pissed off I couldn't give the French fans a win today.
3rd. José Maria Lopez – Super Nova International: My car was very good. We had a problem in the pitstop but it's nobody's fault. Nelson and Giorgio were very fair with me today, and I think we have a lot to be confident about for tomorrow