27/08/2006
NEWS STORY
Trident Racing - Andreas Zuber 1st Gimmi Bruni 15th
Andreas Zunber won dominating from flag to flag the superb race 2 here in Istanbul. Gimmi Bruni, who kicked off from the last slot of the grid, recovered eleven positions taking the final fifteenth. Trident Racing have so accomplished the mission to support Andi to the podium. Bravissimo Andi.
Andreas Zuber: "First of all I wish to thank Trident Racing for giving me a perfect car. The boys did an outstanding job. I am happy because I believe I paid them back winning a race from flag to flag, always being in full control of the situation. I did a great start so I have been able to lead the whole race. It is fantastic, even considering the great battle behind me, today nobody could have taken away the victory from my hands. This has been my day and I dedicate my first victory to a very special person: my brother Christian.
Gimmi Bruni: "My compliments to Andi for his maiden victory and for the way he took it. I am sorry just because, considering the level of our cars, without the bad luck of yesterday today we could have jumped together over the first two steps of the podium."
ART Grand Prix - Lewis Hamilton 2nd Alexandre Premat 7th
The ART GP team left Turkey with an unassailable lead in the team championship after a total of three podium finishes at the Istanbul circuit, two second places from Lewis Hamilton and one third from Alex Premat, meaning that they will be crowned 2006 champions at the next round in Italy.
Hot and dry conditions were the call of the Turkish weekend and after qualifying in fifth, Lewis dropped back to sixth at the start of race one, however he soon sailed past the fighting José María López and Adam Carroll for fourth and was soon hunting down his teammate, Alex Premat, who had made it into second at the start of the race. Losing the position to Giorgio Pantano, Alex was back in third as his teammate began pushing for the position. Determined not to give in easily, the two ART drivers ran side by side for almost a lap before Lewis managed to execute the pass and head off after Pantano. Taking the position before Pantano retired, Lewis was on his way to a podium finish, crossing the line for second with Alex a fine third, the duo giving the team a double podium.
This thrilling race was just a taste of what was to come on Sunday when Lewis drove the wheels off his Dallara for another podium finish, becoming the star of the show in the process. Starting seventh behind his teammate, Lewis spun on the second lap and dropped all the way down to 16th, however he refused to let this beat him and he fought back brilliantly over the course of the next few laps to be back up behind Piquet by lap 16. But, the excitement didn't stop there as this epic battle continued with Lewis running side by side with Timo Glock, neither driver prepared to yield. Meanwhile, Piquet was close behind and waiting for the chance to pounce. Finally on lap 21 Lewis made his move and headed off after third placed Adam Carroll where he stayed until the final lap. A late braking manoeuvre saw the ART driver make it through into second, crossing the line moments later to complete one of the finest drives in GP2's history.
Meanwhile, Alex earned six points due to his third place in race one, but after being forced to go wide on the opening lap of race two, he made slight contact with Pantano, Piccione and Di Grassi. While no damage was done, his car become difficult to drive and left him unable to match his teammate's performance.
Lewis now heads into the final two round s of the season at the Monza circuit ten points ahead of Nelson Piquet in their battle for the 2006 crown while Alex sits third, 39 points behind his teammate. However, the young Frenchman will also have to fight to secure his position in Monza as Timo Glock sits just four points behind in fourth.
Frédéric Vasseur: We left Turkey without victory, something that is always a small disappointment; however to secure the title in the team championship on Saturday was an immense satisfaction. Our two drivers did a great job with three podiums and a history making drive from Lewis, who put himself in a good position for the final races of the season in Monza, where his and the team's objective be to take the drivers crown. Alex will have his own battle with the fight for 3rd place in the drivers championship.
Alexandre Premat: To finish third and on the podium in race 1 was a great achievement that I can be proud of. It wasn't an easy race, but I had a really good start and was in second position right away. I almost took a gamble and thought that I would try and pass Nelson Piquet Jr, but I played it safe to ensure that I didn't ruin the team, and my own hopes. We had excellent grip on the hot track but the car was difficult to drive until my first early pitstop. We then changed the tyres and the car was better. I could fight, overtake and secure some important points for the championship.
I was not feeling well on Sunday morning as I had caught a cold. This may have been the reason why my start was not fantastic and could have been better. Still, I was forced to go wide into the gravel on the first lap and I lost a bit of time. Later I was involved in a slight contact with Pantano, Piccione and Di Grassi, but fortunately it did not to do any damage to my car. The race was really hard for me as my car was very difficult to drive. I am really disappointed that I couldn't make it onto the podium again. However, I will remain focused and I'm determined to end the season on a high note in Monza.
Lewis Hamilton: To come from fifth was really good for us in race 1. We needed the points as Nelson is getting close and we had good race pace.
I just put my heart and soul into that second race. It's just all hope, you keep it inside you and push to the end. I never give up… never. That's been my motto since I was very young. And today it served me well.
Racing Engineering - Adam Carroll 3rd Javier Villa 16th
Adam Carroll gave his Racing Engineering team something to cheer about today by bringing home another podium finish in the sprint race at the Istanbul Park circuit after challenging eventual race winner Andreas Zuber all race long for the win, while teammate Javier Villa set some of the fastest laps of the race to show the speed the team is capable of finding.
When the lights went out Adam squeezed past polesitter Xandi Negrao and looked to be easily second, but a push back from the Brazilian into turn one reverted the order. When Negrao went off into retirement a few laps later Adam was able to catch up to Zuber, and the pair battled fiercely for the top spot. Meanwhile Javi had been boxed in at the start and was forced down the grid, but was determined to fight his way back up.
With a few laps to go Adam had to concede the win with his tyres well past their best, but looked certain to claim second until the very last lap of the race when Lewis Hamilton came from nowhere to steal the position into the final complex of corners. Javi, meanwhile, was able to run fast everywhere after he got by three drivers and found some clean air. Unfortunately by then it was too late, and he finished sixteenth in the race.
Back in the paddock, team principal Alfonso de Orleans Borbon noted: I am vastly excited about Adam's podium, although it's a pity because I think he could have had the win if he hadn't been held up by Negrao at the beginning: by the time he caught up to Zuber his tyres were a bit shagged! It was difficult for him but he drove an amazing race, and the only surprising thing was rocket ship Lewis: even Adam was surprised at how fast he was! I think we're finally on the pace, and Adam is happy, although he would have liked to hold on to second. Javi did a good job, although he got caged in at the beginning, but later he had all of the fastest sectors, so the car was obviously well set up. If we put that set up on for Monza hopefully we can get him into the points at the next race. Everyone did a good job, and there were no problems with the cars: we've gained two places in the team championship, and Adam has moved up as well, so it was pretty good."
A slightly disappointed Adam Carroll stated: "It was another tough race: Zuber was good, he drove very well and didn't make any mistakes, and I was pushing as hard as I could. Obviously third is a good finish and it means more points for the team, but I'm pretty disappointed that I lost second in the last complex of corners: when I looked in my mirror I said there is no way Hamilton can come up from where he was, so I just concentrated on getting the braking right for the final complex, but he came up and just destroyed me. Obviously if I thought he could overtake from there I would have defended, but I didn't think he could do it from that far back. My car ran well, there were no problems with it, but unfortunately I couldn't hold onto second."
A tranquil looking Javier Villa later added: "I think that the race was good, but it was difficult because the car is really different today from yesterday, and I was a bit slow in the first corner because of the other drivers. But still I could overtake three people later, and then I could push and do some really good times. I think I had one of the fastest laps, and I finished sixteenth: the car is different, but with a little work I think in Monza we will be really fast."
Piquet Sports - Nelson Piquet Jr 5th
The GP2 championship battle will go down to the wire in Monza in a fortnight's time as leader Lewis Hamilton and Nelson Piquet Jr are separated by just ten points after
today's GP2 sprint race at the Istanbul Park Circuit in Turkey. After one of the most exciting GP2 races in the series' two year history, Nelson finished in fifth position
from his eighth place grid start.
Nelson made a great start at the beginning of the 23 laps, passing Hamilton and Alexandre Premat to move up to sixth. He went up to fifth on the first lap after passing
Lucas Di Grassi and then up to fourth when Xandi Negrao had an off track excursion. The following laps made for fantastic viewing as drivers diced for position within the top ten. Nelson, Hamilton and Timo Glock had an epic battle over several laps, with Hamilton eventually going through and finishing up in second place.
In the championship, Hamilton now has 101 points, with Nelson 10 adrift on 91. Alexandre Premat is currently third with 62 points. The final two races will take place at the Monza circuit in two weeks time.
Nelson Piquet Jr: "I'm very disappointed not to get more points today. It would be better if there was a smaller gap going to Monza between me and Lewis in the championship. But overall, the team has performed very well over the weekend and now we must go to Italy and continue to do a good job. It's not over yet."
Super Nova International - Jose Maria Lopez 11th Fairuz Fauzy DNF
Extremely hot conditions at the Istanbul Park Circuit would further test the young GP2 drivers physical fitness, as they set about the 23-lap race today. And indeed it was this that contributed to Super Nova's Fairuz Fauzy's water & oil temperatures reaching dangerously high levels, ending his race prematurely just a couple of laps in. "I went onto the grass to avoid an accident, and grass got forced into the side pods causing the temperature warning lights to come on. To avoid an engine rebuild, I had to unfortunately retire."
Team mate Jose Maria Lopez found himself surrounded as they made their start on the grid. "Unable to find the enough power" the Argentinean slipped back 5 places. As cars fell off the track, Jose fought on, regaining several places to finally cross the line in a rather unsatisfying 11th position.
In front Zuber maintained pole position after Negrao came out of the race. Behind him Adam Carroll held a strong 2nd position until the very last corner. Lewis Hamilton, who had spun early on, managed to spectacularly pass what seemed like half the field & who was involved in an exciting swapping of positions between Glock & Piquet Jnr., eventually finished 2nd just ahead the Racing Engineering's car (3rd)
Team Principal David Sears said "A disappointing result for the entire team this weekend here in Turkey. It looked promising for Jose in qualifying, but unfortunately we couldn't produce the race results. It would be great to finish this season on a high note, and look forward to Monza."
DPR - Vitaly Petrov 18th Clivio Piccione DNF
It all started well, with a 5th place in practice for Clivio Piccione, but the British team's weekend gradually deteriorated with little to show for their efforts.
Qualifying for the Monégasque driver was hampered by a massive spin in Turn 8 on his second set of new tyres. He had been in 5th with his first set of tyres but was obviously trying to improve on that. After his quickest first sector of the weekend, the end result was very disappointing as it placed him in 13th place and was not representative of Clivio's true capabilities at the Istanbul Park track.
Vitaly Petrov had a disastrous qualifying session. A gearbox electronic problem prevented him from leaving the pit lane and it took the Mecachrome technicians almost the entire session to resolve the issue. The gearbox was taken off and a new wiring loom fitted, but in the end it took a new ECU unit before the car would successfully get away. With only 40 seconds of the qualifying session remaining, the Russian was not able to put in a timed lap and the team had to obtain a special dispensation from the Stewards to start the race from the back of the grid based on his performance in untimed practice.
In yesterday's first race, Clivio did 11 laps before a brake issue caused him to bring the car into the pits. The brakes were locking on, eventually traced to a faulty master cylinder, and the end result was a spectacular brake fire in the pits and another disappointing outing for Piccione. Vitaly Petrov had a fairly unremarkable race to finish 16th , having made good progress through the field from the back of the grid.
Unfortunately matters did not improve in today's second race. A tremendous start by Piccione, who was convinced that his car was good enough to aim for a podium finish, saw him up to 11th from the back of the grid by the end of the first lap. However, an over-ambitious move by Pantano pushed him off the track and the resulting damage to Piccione's car was too bad for him to continue. Petrov spun off on the first lap but recovered to continue, finishing in a dispiriting 17th place.
Team Principal David Price said, "First thing Friday we were on the button and then we've come away with nothing. I'm very fed up and there's not much more we can say at the moment. We have looked into every area of the team and know we are doing everything right but we're just not getting the results to back that up."