Auto123.com - Helping you drive happy

Auto GP: Pizzonia dominant, Quaife-Hobbs champion

|
Get the best interest rate
Khatir Soltani
As the championship presented two rounds in Brazil, he only went for a single appearance in Auto GP, but former F1 driver Antonio Pizzonia won both races in Curitiba, while Adrian Quaife-Hobbs secured the title.

As he came to replace Venezuelian driver Giancarlo Serenelli who was involved in GP2 at Hockenheim in the meantime, Pizzonia set the third best performance in qualifying. The championship leader Adrian Quaife Hobbs set the pole position, but the Brazilian driver moved up to the lead at the start. Pizzonia pulled away in front and crossed the finish line in first position one second ahead of Pal Varhaug, while Quaife-Hobbs was delayed in the pits.

Auto GP
Photo: Auto GP

In the second round, Quaife-Hobbs was flying to victory and the title, but the Brit was forced to retire when he hit the tire protections while entering in the pits. Nevertheless, Pal Varhaug was only fifth, Quaife-Hobbs was crowned champion. Pizzonia inherited the lead, and set a second victory out of two Auto GP outings.

Auto GP
Start of race 2. (Photo: Auto GP)

Antonio Pizzonia usually races the Brazilian stock car championship.

Race 1:
1 - Antonio Pizzonia – Ombra – 23 laps in 28'51”683
2 – Pal Varhaug – Virtuosi – 1”142
3 – Sergey Sirotkin – Euronova – 5”104
4 – Daniel De Jong – Manor MP – 17”299

5 – Chris Van Der Drift – Manor MP – 23”755
Etc.

Race 2:
1 – Antonio Pizzonia – Ombra – 23 laps in 28'44”316
2 – Chris Van Der Drift – Manor MP – 8”021

3 – Daniel De Jong – Manor MP – 9”264

4 – Sergey Sirotkin – Euronova – 13”662

5 – Pal Varhaug – Virtuosi – 14”651
Etc.

Championship:
1. Quaife-Hobbs 205; 2. Varhaug 150; 3. Sirtokin 140; 4. Van Der Drift 127; 5. De Jong 78, etc.



Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada