Round 14 – Silverstone
Weather: Bright Track: Dry
'Catch me if you can!' Two out of Two for Conway
Mike Conway (GBR) and his Raikkonen Robertson Racing Dallara Mercedes left Silverstone this evening with a massive 68 point lead in the championship after taking a double win today with his major contender, Bruno Senna (BRA) taking a 2nd in the first race and a disappointing 8th in the second.
A huge cheer went to Christian Bakkerud (DEN) in his Carlin Motorsport Dallara-Honda who pushed the Championship leader from start to finish closing the gap to 0.00 seconds as they crossed line side-by-side on the penultimate lap of the 16 lap race that ran in dry and sunny conditions, completely contrasting with the earlier race of the day.
With Conway and Bakkerud having their own close race up front other championship leading drivers were enjoying their own 3-way battles further down the 3.2 mile GP circuit. James Walker (GBR), Jonathan Kennard (GBR) and Senna swapped positions continuously during the middle section of the race with Stephen Jelley (GBR), Karl Reindler (AUS) and James Jakes (GBR) also thrilling the crowds with some great overtaking tactics.
In the National Class Rodolfo Gonzalez (VEN) in his T-Sport Dallara Mugen-Honda led from start to finish to take his 11th win of the season increasing his already strong lead to 64 points from Cristiano Morgado (RSA) whose 3rd and 2nd places today keep him secure in second position.
Today’s two championship races formed part of the GP Masters series here at Silverstone with past F3 and F1 champions battling in wet conditions in identical formula race cars and taking the time in between track sessions to watch the next generation of F1 drivers in the Lloyds TSB Insurance British F3 International series, the very same proving ground that most of today’s GP Master drivers learnt their craft back in the 1970s.
After the podium presentations Bakkerud was asked why he couldn’t quite get past Conway on that last lap. “It was so close but by that stage the tyres were just starting to go off and whilst Mike was probably experiencing the same I couldn’t risk losing second spot. But a great battle on a fantastic circuit, so I’m pleased with 2nd place” said the Fortec driver.
Gonzalez was justifiably pleased with his win but was still kicking himself for a lower result in Race 1 “I’m so angry with my mistake in Race 1, it shouldn’t have happened but this is a great learning circuit and it is of course pleasing to go away with another win and a strong championship lead” said the Venezualan driver.
