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Timo Takes Tremendous Triumph |
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Saturday, 15 July 2006 |
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.
Race Report: 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 1:01:14.385 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 +5.988 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 ****ed
off I couldn’t give the French fans a win today.
3rd. José Maria Lopez – Super Nova International +17.100 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.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 06 January 2007 )
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