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Maldonado And G-Tec Win At The Series Debut |
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Tuesday, 19 June 2007 |
Podium positions also for Minardi's Nunes and Rigon, now leading the standings Pastor Maldonado entered F.3000 in the best way, dominating Race 1 at Hungaroring. After the fastest time in practice, pole position, he led every lap and set the fastest time during the race. The Venezuelan G-Tec driver put the icing on the top of his debut in the series organized by Coloni Motorsport, taking the most points available in a race, 12, which put him in fifth position in the standings. Maldonado stormed off the grid, taking the lead ahead of Diego Nunes (Minardi by GP Racing), who finished in second place with a 5"7 gap. Oliver Martini (RC Motorsport) didn't make such a smooth start, completing the first lap in seventh position. Davide Rigon (Minardi by GP Racing), instead, was chasing the two leading drivers, Maldonado and Nunes, just from the start of the race and mantained the third position until the chequered flag, ahead of Danielsson who as always been close to him throughout the race. With the third podium spot, the Italian driver took the provisional lead of the Championship overtaking Martini, seventh in Race 1 and now runner up in the Championship. In the second half of the race, Rigon was marginally faster than his team mate Nunes, but he decided not to risk.
The Swedish Alx Danielsson (Elk Motorsport) finished just off the
podium, ahead of the Brazilian Luiz Razia (Fisichella Motor Sport) and
the Ecuadorean Sebastian Merchan (Elk Motorsport), who did a great
performance today. Eight place for the other G-Tec's rookie, Jason
Tahinci, who will start from pole position tomorrow. The Bulgarian
Arabadzhiev (Auto Sport Racing), involved in an accident with Leal
during the first half of the race, then ended his race against the wall
on the eighth lap.
Race 2 will start tomorrow (Sunday) at 1:00 pm, with Tahinci and
Martini starting from the first row, followed by Merchan and Razia.
Pastor Maldonado (1st): "I had immediately a great feeling with
the car. I think I have already learnt the track, too: I like it very
much. That's a great training for the GP2 race which will be held on
the same circuit. In the end I had a comfortable lead, so I tried
different lines, to learn all the secrets of Hungaroring." Diego Nunes
(2nd): "In the middle of the race I attacked Maldonado and this makes
me think we are on the right path. In the end I was very hot and tired."
Davide Rigon (3rd): "The bad qualifying position, due to a
set-up which wasn't perfect, affected my race. I was able to improve in
the second part of the race, I had a good pace and got close to my team
mate, but I decided not to risk and to be satisfied with my result."
RACE 1 – Budapest
1. Pastor Maldonado (Lola B02/50) – G-Tec – 26’24’’797
2. Diego Nunes (Lola B02/50) – Minardi Team by GP Racing – at 05’’738
3. Davide Rigon (Lola B02/50) – Minardi Team by GP Racing – at 06’’882
4. Alx Danielsson (Lola B02/50) – ELK Motorsport – at 07’’307
5. Luiz Razia (Lola B02/50) – Fisichella Motor Sport – at 15’’174
6. Sebastian Merchan (Lola B02/50) – ELK Motorsport – at 24’’434
7. Oliver Martini (Lola B02/50) – RC Motorsport – at 26’’009
8. Jason Tahinci (Lola B02/50) – G-Tec – at 36’’392
9. Mehdi Bennani (Lola B02/50) – ELK Motorsport – at 40’’679
10. Omar Leal (Lola B02/50) – Durango – at 1’38’’533
11. Vladimir Arabadzhiev (Lola B02/50) – ASR – at 8 laps
12. Davide Amaduzzi (Lola B99/50) – Paragon/Dueppì – at 15 laps
13. Andrea Fausti (Lola B99/50) – Paragon/Dueppì – not started
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