Luis Sa Silva, coming from Angola, won the second race of the Auto GP in Silverstone as the series lined-up alongside the Blancpain Endurance Series. The 24-year-old racer, driving for Zele Racing, beat Facu Regalia (FMS Racing) by just 0.048 seconds, while his team-mate Antonio Pizzonia settled for the third step on the podium 2.3 seconds away. The race actually had three starts as the previous attempt were scrapped due to Pizzonia and Zlobing remaining stationary on the grid. At the third start, Cipriani led the way for a while but was soon passed by Sa Silva, while Pizzonia and Zlobin were making their way up from the pits. From the 5th place on the grid, Regalia recovered up to second but Sa Silva shut the door multiple times, sending him on the grass.
The Argentinian stayed on-track but was eventually forced to settle for second while recriminating with the winner. As Pizzonia made it up to third, Cipriani (Ibiza Racing) stayed in the hunt for the podium followed by Von Grünigen (PCR), Mendez (Zele Racing) and Zlobin (Virtuosi (UK). The latter suffered from gearbox woes after experiencing steering wheel gremlins in race 1. Pizzonia still leads the championship with 78 points, with Regalia sits 10 points back and Sa Silva stands at 53.
Luis Sa Silva took his maiden Auto GP win: “I'm very happy for my first win. The start was good and I got the lead straight away. I was the fastest man on-track and I did my race, defending from the attacks of Regalia. He pressed me a lot but I set my line out front. It's been him to go outside the track limits while trying to pass me at any cost”.
Regalia, who ended in second, has a different opinion: “I could win, but with three laps to go Sa Silva sent me off in the grass and then cruised to victory. I had some really worn out tires and I couldn't catch him back. I think he crossed the line in this case”.
Pizzonia, took his second podium finish in the UK: “After the aborted start I had to start from the pits. Clearly, I'm content with third place, considering that I started back down the order. It's not so easy to recover so many positions, so I'm satisfied with the third step on the podium”.
