GP2 Series: Nurburgring, Race 1 Report.
Timo Glock gave his home fans the perfect afternoon as he became the first driver in 2007 to win a second GP2 Series race.
The pole sitter did not have things his own way however, as eventual second place finisher Lucas di Grassi spent much of the race in the lead after a lightening start.
Timo’s strategy won out in the end however, and he led the Brazilian across the line, with Kazuki Nakajima picking up his third podium in a row in third position.
Race Report:
As the lights went out, Lucas flew away from second place and beat Timo into the first corner. Behind them, title contender Luca Filippi saw another race filled with potential evaporate, as for the second time this year he was punted out at the first corner, this time at the hands of Sebastien Buemi. His countryman Giorgio Pantano slotted into third, with Pastor Maldonado fourth. One lap later Pastor shot past Giorgio, but it was on lap three that the pattern of the race was to change.
Sixth placed starter Kazuki came into the pits and emerged in clear air to set about putting in the fastest laps for which he has become known this year. At the same point, Andi Zuber pitted after being passed by a plethora of drivers. He’d try a few more laps, but his problem was terminal and in the end he resigned himself to the fact that his unlucky demons had returned to haunt him. Up front, Timo and Lucas were keeping each other true, but when the Brazilian pitted on lap 10 Timo was back in clear air and set about putting in his fastest laps of the race.
Two laps later and it was the German’s time to pit, emerging narrowly ahead of Lucas but only a few seconds behind Jason Tahinci. The Turk was soon to play a crucial part in the race, as the de facto leaders struggled to find a way past him. While Pastor led, we had Timo, Lucas,
Kazuki and Giorgio tucked up together behind Jason and as they battled for a way past, the Turk pitted and the race was back on. Up front, Pastor’s pitstop meant team-mate Kohei Hirate led as the last remaining driver to stop. When he finally came in, he emerged in sixth just inches from his team-mate’s rear wing. The pair duked it out before Kohei proved he wasn’t the only Japanese driver with pace in the series, and pulled off a stunning move for fifth.
Timo meanwhile had pulled out a three second gap from Lucas, which he held to the end, as the Brazilian managed to hold off a rampant Kazuki for second. Giorgio settled for fourth with an ill-handling car, while Kohei was delighted with his first 2007 points in fifth. Pastor came home sixth with Adrian Zaugg seventh and Javier Villa a brilliant eighth from 15th on the grid. Mike Conway, who had stalled at the start, took fastest lap, albeit a lap down at the chequered flag.
1st Timo Glock: iSport International. 1:01:32.032 We've had the perfect start to the weekend, especially with pole position and two points yesterday, and now the race win. In the end I saved the right front tyre because I had a big flat spot on it, and I had only that picture of Raikkonen a couple of years ago when he lost his car in the last 2 laps, so I hoped only to finish the race.
2nd Lucas di Grassi: ART Grand Prix. +2.274 I think iSport did a great job, and also Timo, so they deserve the win at Timo's home track, and I'm happy now to have ten points back to third for the championship, and tomorrow I start in front of Timo, so if I repeat the start I did today it should be a great race.
3rd Kazuki Nakajima: Dams +2.723 From the middle to the end of the race it was a bit difficult because we had some oversteer, but compared to Timo and di Grassi the race pace was competitive, and to the others behind it was much better, so I think we are going the right way and we have to keep pushing to get another step on the podium.
