TAHINCI ON THE PODIUM, DANIELSSON AND MARTINI KO
In Magny-Cours the first win in Euroseries 3000 for Davide Rigon.
Minardi/GP Racing's Italian dominated Race 1 and now leads the championship.
Behind the winner, the Minardi success was completed by Diego Nunes, 1"280 behind the leader. First podium for Jason Tahinci, 11"280 behind the winner. The Turkish driver was able to bring the G-Tec team back to the podium after their win in Budapest with Maldonado.
Race 1 for Alx Danielsson was a great disappointment. He started on pole with Elk Motorsport's car, led the race for a couple of turns, as was forced to retire by a fuel pump problem.
Oliver Martini. RC Motorsport's Italian driver was out of the race at the second lap at the Estoril corner, when he was in third place. Luiz Razia (Fisichella Motor Sport), Sebastian Merchan (Elk Motorsport), Vladimir Arabadzhiev (Auto Sport Racing), Gian Domenico Sposito (G-Tec), seventh at his debut on an unknown track, thus obtaining the first row for Sunday's race, also scored points in Magny-Cours.
Young Columbian Omar Leal (Durango), eighth, Ninth, with a Lola '99, for rookie Valentino Sebastiani (Racing Box).
Rigon has 35 points in the rankings, ahead of his team mate, Nunes, up to 26. Third is Martini, 23, while Razia, with 19 points, overtook Danielsson, 18.
Davide Rigon (Minardi/GP Racing): "I said in Budapest I was ready to reach the top step of thepodium, and I did it in France. The car wasn't perfect in qualifying, but in the race, with a hottertemperature, it has been very good. I could also push more. I thank the team for the fantasticjob."
Diego Nunes (Minardi/GP Racing): "My start wasn't easy. Then I managed to get behind Davide.Both of us were fast and, when I realised I couldn't take him, I mantained my position looking tothe championship and getting precious points."Jason Tahinci (G-Tec): "I hadn't been getting on a podium for a while and I needed such a result.After an unperfect start, I took the right place and I pushed. I controlled Razia in the end,maintaining the gap which allowed me to take the third position. I'm happy both for me and for theteam."
RACE 1 – MAGNY COURS1. Davide Rigon - Minardi Team by GP Racing – 24’07’’0062. Diego Nunes - Minardi Team by GP Racing – at 1’’2803. Jason Tahinci - G-Tec – at 11’’2904. Luiz Razia - Fisichella Motor Sport – at 12’’0445. Sebastian Merchan - Elk Motorsport – at 35’’5406. Vladimir Arabadzhiev - Auto Sport Racing – at 38’’3287. Gian Domenico Sposito - G-Tec – at 39’’8358. Omar Leal - Engineering Durango – at 40’’1479. Valentino Sebastiani - Racing Box – at 49’’30410. Francesco Dracone - 2G Racing – at 1’03’’27111. Mehdi Bennani - Elk Motorsport – at 3 laps12. Niky Sebastiani – Racing Box – at 8 laps13. Oliver Martini - R.C. Motorsport – n.c.14. Alx Danielsson - Elk Motorsport – n.c.
Fastest Lap: Davide Rigon (Minardi Team by GP Racing) – 1’29’’453 ((177.518km/h)
