Jules Bianchi won his first GP2 series race by leading every lap from pole to chequered on a wet Silverstone track on Saturday. Christian Vietoris and Marcus Ericsson were second and third respectively.
The rain was so heavy early morning on Saturday that the race was started behind the safety car after a 10-minute delay. The race went to green on lap 3 and slowly but surely dried up to a point where drivers started going to slicks on lap 12.
Vietoris stopped one lap ahead of Bianchi and made a huge time advantage. They battled wheel to wheel for the next few laps, swapping the lead. Bianchi ultimately managed to get the best out of his car to win.
Romain Grosjean's incredible pace saw him extend his lead in the title fight with a fourth place. He further increased his championship lead after fighting his way from 5th on the grid to victory on Sunday’s second GP2 series’ race in Silverstone.
Dani Clos and Giedo van der Garde completed the podium of Grosjean’s third win of the season.
Front row starter Stefano Coletti stalled on the grid, giving poleman van der Garde a clean run to the first turn. After a series of changes in the top-5, Grosjean claimed the victory by seven seconds from Clos, who had title contender van der Garde and Ericsson all over his rear wing.
The next round will take place at the Nurburgring, in two weeks' time.
GP2 Series, Silverstone’s Doubleheader:
Race 1 - WINNER: Jules Bianchi
Pos No Driver Team Laps Time Gap
1 5 J. Bianchi Lotus ART 29 58:40.010
2 8 C. Vietoris Racing Engineering 29 58:44.187 4.177
3 10 M. Ericsson iSport International 29 58:44.945 4.935 0.758
4 11 R. Grosjean DAMS 29 58:45.637 5.627 0.692
5 9 S. Bird iSport International 29 58:51.434 11.424 5.797
Etc.
Race 2 - WINNER: Romain Grosjean
Pos No Driver Team Laps Time Gap
1 11 R. Grosjean DAMS 21 36:42.650
2 7 D. Clos Racing Engineering 21 36:49.669 7.019
3 4 G. Van Der Garde Barwa Addax Team 21 36:50.410 7.760 0.741
4 10 M. Ericsson iSport International 21 36:51.083 8.433 0.673
5 5 J. Bianchi Lotus ART 21 36:52.077 9.427 0.994
Etc.
Standing: 1.Grosjean 47, 2.Van der Garde 38, 3.Bird 32, 4.Valsecchi 30, 5.Pic 24, 6.Clos 24, 7.Bianchi 22, 8.Ericsson 17, etc.
The rain was so heavy early morning on Saturday that the race was started behind the safety car after a 10-minute delay. The race went to green on lap 3 and slowly but surely dried up to a point where drivers started going to slicks on lap 12.
Vietoris stopped one lap ahead of Bianchi and made a huge time advantage. They battled wheel to wheel for the next few laps, swapping the lead. Bianchi ultimately managed to get the best out of his car to win.
Romain Grosjean's incredible pace saw him extend his lead in the title fight with a fourth place. He further increased his championship lead after fighting his way from 5th on the grid to victory on Sunday’s second GP2 series’ race in Silverstone.
Dani Clos and Giedo van der Garde completed the podium of Grosjean’s third win of the season.
Front row starter Stefano Coletti stalled on the grid, giving poleman van der Garde a clean run to the first turn. After a series of changes in the top-5, Grosjean claimed the victory by seven seconds from Clos, who had title contender van der Garde and Ericsson all over his rear wing.
The next round will take place at the Nurburgring, in two weeks' time.
GP2 Series, Silverstone’s Doubleheader:
Race 1 - WINNER: Jules Bianchi
Pos No Driver Team Laps Time Gap
1 5 J. Bianchi Lotus ART 29 58:40.010
2 8 C. Vietoris Racing Engineering 29 58:44.187 4.177
3 10 M. Ericsson iSport International 29 58:44.945 4.935 0.758
4 11 R. Grosjean DAMS 29 58:45.637 5.627 0.692
5 9 S. Bird iSport International 29 58:51.434 11.424 5.797
Etc.
Race 2 - WINNER: Romain Grosjean
Pos No Driver Team Laps Time Gap
1 11 R. Grosjean DAMS 21 36:42.650
2 7 D. Clos Racing Engineering 21 36:49.669 7.019
3 4 G. Van Der Garde Barwa Addax Team 21 36:50.410 7.760 0.741
4 10 M. Ericsson iSport International 21 36:51.083 8.433 0.673
5 5 J. Bianchi Lotus ART 21 36:52.077 9.427 0.994
Etc.
Standing: 1.Grosjean 47, 2.Van der Garde 38, 3.Bird 32, 4.Valsecchi 30, 5.Pic 24, 6.Clos 24, 7.Bianchi 22, 8.Ericsson 17, etc.