Jon Lancaster Secures Maiden GP2 Victory On Home Soil At Silverstone
Jon Lancaster has secured his maiden GP2 victory on home soil around the legendary Silverstone circuit, after a superb drive from 4th on the grid. The 24-year-old was joined on the podium by Indonesian ace Rio Haryanto, with fellow countryman James Calado 3rd. Pole-man Julian Leal eventually finished 4th for Racing Engineering.
At the start Jon Lancaster enjoyed a stupendous getaway off of the line, launching himself from 4th to 1st by the opening corner as Julian Leal plummeted down the order despite initially starting from pole. James Calado rose to 3rd for ART Grand Prix, as the local drivers continued to thrive around the Silverstone circuit. As the field negotiated the fast opening curve, the DAMS of Stephane Richelmi locked his brakes and ran into the side of Jolyon Palmer. Despite sustaining minor damage, the duo managed to continue circulating.
As Jon Lancaster proceeded to open up a considerable lead at the front, Johnny Cecotto jr. was forced to pit after the opening lap for a new front-wing. A momentary safety car period was caused on Lap 2 after Daniel Abt spun at Turn 2, coming to rest in the middle of the track. As the safety car bunched the field up, Nathaniel Berthon became the second retirement after returning to the pits.
Upon the restart Jon Lancaster simply stormed into a commanding lead behind the wheel of his Hilmer Motorsport machine, as Felipe Nasr continued his rise through the order to 8th after initially starting way down the order. Sergio Canamasas sustained damage to his front-wing after jostling for position at Turn 4, which forced the Spaniard to limp back to the pits for a replacement. The Caterham driver’s minor incident saw lots of debris strewn across the circuit, which the brave and ever-efficient British marshals proceeded to clear under double-waved yellow flags.
As the sprint race progressed with local ace Jon Lancaster continuing to extend his lead at the front, team-mate Robin Frijns was forced into an unfortunate retirement after an issue was discovered on his car. Further down the order Jake Rosenzweig suffered a disastrous tyre failure, which forced the American driver to limp back to the pits and subsequently plummet through the order. After damaging his front-wing at the start of the race, Johnny Cecotto jr. became the next retirement as the Venezuelan driver peeled off of the circuit down Hangar Straight.
Due to his earlier pit-stop for a new front-wing, Sergio Canamasas found himself a lap down and in the middle of the pack as the race entered it’s closing stages. Unfortunately the 27-year-old Spaniard failed to adhere to the regulations as he held up the Carlin of Jolyon Palmer, who was trying his best to lap the Caterham driver. Eventually the Briton lunged up the inside at Turn 6, which resulted in retirement as duo collided. Sergio Canamasas was subsequently struck with a ten second stop/go penalty, as Jolyon Palmer limped back to the support race pits into a frustrating retirement.
As the race drew to a frenetic conclusion, battles for position raged on throughout the order between the likes of Sam Bird, Tom Dillmann, Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson. However, Jon Lancaster remained untroubled as he cruised across the line in dominant style to secure his maiden GP2 victory on home soil. The Briton was joined on the podium by Indonesian sensation Rio Haryanto, with the ART Grand Prix of James Calado 3rd.
Picture Copyright © Malcolm Griffiths/GP2 Series Media Service
Jake Rosenzweig To Partner Rio Haryanto At Barwa Addax In 2013
Spanish GP2 team Barwa Addax have confirmed that American driver Jake Rosenzweig will partner Rio Haryanto at the outfit in the forthcoming GP2 season, after the 23-year-old competed in the final two rounds of the season for Barwa Addax last year. Rosenzweig will become the first American to compete in the Series since Scott Speed.
After enjoying Championship supremacy in 2011 with Romain Grosjean, Barwa Addax endured a relatively tough 2012 season which yielded only two victories at the hands of both Johnny Cecotto jr. and Josef Kral. The Spanish outfit finished the year only 8th in the Constructors’ Championship with 131 points scored, a tally they will be aiming to better in the coming season with a revised driving line-up which includes Rio Haryanto and American star Jake Rosenzweig.
Jake Rosenzweig’s path to the GP2 Series has included stints in both the GP2 Asia, Auto GP and Formula Renault 3.5 categories. Towards the end of the 2012 GP2 season, Jake Rosenzweig was called upon by the Spanish outfit to partner Johnny Cecotto jr. in the final two rounds of the year at Monza and Singapore, where the American driver managed to finish all four races albeit well outside the points paying positions. However, Barwa Addax were impressed with Rosenzweig’s performances during both the final two rounds of the season and the post-season tests, and he will therefore compete in his first full season of GP2 action in 2013 alongside Indonesian ace Rio Haryanto.
“I am excited to be joining Addax for the 2013 GP2 season and wish to thank all involved for making this possible.” Said Jake Rosenzweig, “Having raced in the final two rounds of the 2012 Championship with Addax, I know what an opportunity this represents to be working with them again. The race calendar has some great circuits and I am looking forward to hitting the ground running. I will do my best to score as many points as possible over the course of the season.”
Barwa Addax have become the sixth team on the grid to confirm their full driver line-up for the forthcoming season, along with DAMS, Lotus GP, Arden International, Racing Engineering and Carlin. With so many Championship contenders on the grid for the new season, 2013 is expected to be yet another sensationally exciting season of GP2 action. Both Rio Haryanto and Jake Rosenzweig will be hoping to add to the excitement once the action gets underway in March at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Picture Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service
Rio Haryanto Switches To Barwa Addax For 2013
Rio Haryanto has switched to Barwa Addax for the 2013 GP2 Series season, after his competitive debut season in the series with Carlin alongside Max Chilton. The Indonesian star graduated from GP3 in 2012, and enjoyed relative success including one pole position and several points scoring finishes. With Carlin signing Jolyon Palmer and Felipe Nasr for 2013, Haryanto has been forced to look elsewhere for a drive.
During his debut season in GP2, Rio Haryanto was once again able to test Formula 1 machinery at Marussia’s Young Driver Test programme at Silverstone in July. The 19-year-old was able to carry out the test alongside then GP2 team-mate Max Chilton, who has recently graduated from the world of GP2 to Formula 1 with Marussia. Like with all drivers currently racing in GP2 and GP3, Rio Haryanto’s ambitions are to emulate Max Chilton in one day progressing up the motor sport ladder to F1.
“I am pleased to be joining the Addax Team for 2013, they are a team that have a very good history in GP2 with many of their drivers progressing into Formula 1.” Explained Rio Haryanto, “This will be my second year in GP2 so with all the experience gained I am confident that 2013 will be a successful year. I would like to thank my sponsors Pertamina, Garuda Indonesia, Telkomsel and Kiky for their continued support.”
Barwa Addax took three victories throughout the 2012 GP2 Series season, at three of the season’s most iconic venues at Monte-Carlo, Hockenheim and Spa-Francorchamps. Rio Haryanto, who is still searching for his maiden GP2 victory, will understandably be striving to emulate those results for the Spanish outfit, who were Constructors’ Champions in 2008 and 2011.
Picture Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service
Tio Ellinas Awarded 2013 Young Driver Test With Marussia
It has been confirmed that GP3 driver Tio Ellinas will drive for the Marussia outfit during their 2013 Young Driver Test program, as a reward for ending the GP3 Series season as the most successful Marussia Manor Racing driver. The Cypriot won the last race of the season at Monza, and will become the first driver from his nation to drive F1 machinery.
Tio Ellinas enjoyed a highly successful debut season in GP3, finishing all but one of the 16 races throughout the season. The Cypriot won the final race in Monza in superlative fashion, denying Daniel Abt the Championship and thus allow Mitch Evans to become the 2012 Champion. Tio Ellinas ended the season 8th in the Drivers’ Championship, with 99 points scored. As a reward for his unyielding consistency, the 20-year-old will drive for the Marussia F1 team during next season’s Young Driver Test.
“Our young driver programme is a significant component of our team and has been since our inception,” explained Marussia’s team principal, John Booth. “It is very important to us to not only provide opportunities for the current crop of drivers, but also to nurture the next generation of rising stars. Whilst we are incredibly focused on the operations of the Marussia F1 Team at Grands Prix, it is second nature to us to watch with interest the very exciting and encouraging performances we see in the support formulae. Tio has done a superb job all season and thoroughly deserves the opportunity of an F1 Test.”
The test in question will most likely not occur until the end of next season, with Marussia having already run their Young Driver Test program earlier this year at Silverstone. At the time, the Banbury-based outfit ran GP2 drivers’ Max Chilton and Rio Haryanto in a test which took place the week after the British Grand Prix.
“It was fantastic to win my first race last weekend at Monza.” Said Tio Ellinas, whose debut season in GP3 consisted on one victory, two podiums and three fastest laps. “It has been a tough season, but I have learned a lot and it culminated in the success of the weekend at an amazing circuit. It doesn’t quite seem real that I’m going to get my first F1 test; it is something I have always dreamed of since I was a child. The test should come after the season next year, so I will be well prepared for it. I really want to thank the Marussia F1 team for this amazing opportunity.”
Tio Ellinas joins former GP3 drivers Rio Haryanto and Adrian Quaife-Hobbs, who were also offered the opportunity to test for the Marussia F1 team after equally competitive seasons in GP3. Since then, however, Haryanto has progressed to GP2 whereas Quaife-Hobbs has progressed to the Auto GP Championship. The Cypriot will be eager to follow in their footsteps, in either graduation to GP2 or elsewhere in the future.
Picture Copyright © Glenn Dunbar/GP3 Series Media Service
Rio Haryanto Clinches Maiden GP2 Pole At Waterlogged Spa
Indonesian sensation Rio Haryanto has stormed to his maiden GP2 pole for Saturday’s feature race, after once again showing his superlative wet weather skills around the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The Carlin driver will line-up alongside James Calado on the grid, with the second row consisting of Esteban Gutierrez and Marcus Ericsson.
The vital qualifying session was initially delayed by several minutes due to the adverse weather conditions, with the rain having lashed down upon the circuit on and off for the majority of the day. However, once the session finally got underway it was Rio Haryanto who led out the traditional long queue of awaiting drivers. The conditions had minimally improved since the morning’s practice session, however the track was still perilous in places.
Johnny Cecotto jr., who endured a heavy incident during practice, set the first timed lap of the session with a 02:23.602. This was almost immediately better by the Carlin of Rio Haryanto, who set a 02:22.377. However, with the rain subsiding slightly, the times quickly began to tumble in traditional GP2 qualifying fashion.
The Caterham of Giedo van der Garde and the Lotus of James Calado shared the top spot as the session progressed, before Haryanto once again asserted his authority over the damp proceedings. Once the drivers had pitted for fresher wet weather tyres, quick times began to emerge once again throughout the pack, as James Calado and then Marcus Ericsson shot to the top spot on the timing sheets.
However, pole position for the feature race was destined for only one man throughout the wet qualifying session. Rio Haryanto stormed to the top with only minutes remaining in the session with a 02:17.535, as the Indonesian driver showed further examples of his apt skill in adverse weather conditions. One of his most memorable victories during his GP3 career came at the Nurburgring in similar conditions, however the Indonesian driver was then tip-toeing around the track on slick tyres.
Hopefully wet weather tyres won’t be necessary for tomorrow afternoon’s feature race, as Rio Haryanto searches for his maiden GP2 race victory. His personal best finish so far this season was 5th at the European Grand Prix feature race, a result he’ll be striving to emulate once the five red lights go out tomorrow.
Picture Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service
Valtteri Bottas Ends Silverstone Young Driver Test Fastest
Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas has ended the final day of the Silverstone Young Driver Test fastest for Williams, just under a second quicker than his nearest rival of the Marussia of Max Chilton. Rio Haryanto brought up the rear, also for Marussia, as Ma Qing Hua and HRT ended their a day early after yesterday and didn’t partake in the final day.
The final day of testing was run on the International circuit at Silverstone, a 1.851 mile configuration which comprises the southern loop of the Grand Prix circuit. It includes the legendary Hangar Straight and Stowe Corner, as well as the current Grand Prix start/finish straight.
Valtteri Bottas added a further 170 laps to his 120 from yesterday, setting a personal best 48.963 during the afternoon period in overcast yet dry conditions. Williams completed aerodynamic and data gathering throughout the day, as Bottas achieved yet further valuable laps behind the wheel of the FW34.
The Marussia duo of Max Chilton and Rio Haryanto together concentrated on further driver development, as the two GP2 stars completed 52 and 79 laps respectively. The two also surpassed the required 300km which will enable them to gain FIA superlicences. Max Chilton’s personal best was a 49.932, only +0.969 behind pace setter Valtteri Bottas. Rio Haryanto’s personal best was a 50.405, as the Indonesian driver completed much more running in MR-01 than the day before.
HRT ended their test session a day early yesterday, meaning China’s Ma Qing Hua didn’t take to the track on Friday. With the Silverstone Young Driver Test now over, the teams will now naturally pack up and head to Germany for the next round of the Formula 1 World Championship around the Hockenheimring.
Pos Driver Team Time 1. Valtteri Bottas Williams-Renault 48.963s 2. Max Chilton Marussia-Cosworth 49.932s + 0.969s 3. Rio Haryanto Marussia-Cosworth 50.405s + 1.442s
Picture Copyright © Williams F1 Team
Valtteri Bottas Fastest On Day 1 Of Silverstone Young Driver Test
The Williams of Valtteri Bottas ended day one of the Silverstone Young Driver Test fastest, after the Finn completed 120 laps behind the wheel of the Williams-Renault FW34. The two Marussias of GP2 stars Max Chilton and Rio Haryanto finished the day 2nd and 3rd respectively, with HRT’s Ma Qing Hua 4th and last after making his Formula 1 debut.
Reigning GP3 Series Champion Valtteri Bottas clocked a 01:31.436 throughout the morning session, a time that went unbeaten as the rest of the day’s running progressed. When rain began to fall at around 16:30, track action momentarily stopped before Bottas returned to the track to complete one final run before the checkered flag fell signaling the end of the day’s running.
Max Chilton and Rio Haryanto were over just over five seconds off the pace set by Bottas, as the two drivers shared driving duties between the morning and afternoon sessions. Chilton’s fastest time of the day was a 01:36.558, just under a second quicker than Rio Haryanto’s 01:37.404.
Chinese driver Ma Qing Hua became only the second driver from China to get behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car, and brought up the rear of the timing sheets with a 01:37.829. The 24-year-old spun whilst exiting the Village corner, whilst activating DRS. Apart from this minor mishap, Ma Qing Hua was able to complete 82 laps throughout the due course of the day’s running, clocking a personal best time on the softer Pirelli compound.
The Silverstone Young Driver Test concludes tomorrow, as the drivers take to the International circuit configuration.
Today’s times:
Pos Driver Team Time 1. Valtteri Bottas Williams-Renault 1m31.436s 2. Max Chilton Marussia-Cosworth 1m36.558s + 5.122s 3. Rio Haryanto Marussia-Cosworth 1m37.404s + 5.968s 4. Ma Qing Hua HRT-Cosworth 1m37.829s + 6.393s
Picture Copyright © Williams F1 Team
Marussia Announce Young Driver Test Line-Up
Marussia have announced that current GP2 stars Max Chilton and Rio Haryanto will drive the Marussia MR-01 are this week’s Young Driver Test at Silverstone, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday 12th and Friday 13th July. The two drivers currently drive for the Marussia backed Carlin team, and have enjoyed a relatively competitive start to the season.
This will be Max Chilton’s second taste of Formula 1 machinery, after the Briton drove for Force India at last year’s Young Driver Test around the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Indonesian star Rio Haryanto has also tasted Formula 1 machinery once before, back in 2010 for the then Virgin Racing team who have since become Marussia.
“I’m really excited to be taking part in the Young Driver Test for Marussia F1 Team.” Explained Max Chilton, “I have driven an F1 car once before – the Force India in 2011 – but I feel that with another year of GP2 competition under my belt to develop my driving further I feel much more prepared this time and eager to demonstrate that progression. The team have come up with a great programme, which has a bit of everything we need to showcase our potential. I can’t wait for the opportunity and thanks to the team, who have already been a great support to me in GP2 this season.”
Only three teams are scheduled to return to Silverstone this week, with Marussia being joined by Williams [Valtteri Bottas] and HRT [Ma Qing Hua]. The two days are set to be alternated between a day on the Grand Prix circuit and a day on the International circuit. Max Chilton will run on the Thursday morning and the Friday afternoon, whereas Rio Haryanto will run on the Thursday afternoon and the Friday morning.
“I would like to thank the Marussia F1 team for giving me this opportunity.” Said Rio Haryanto. “Having worked with the team for the past three years in both GP3 and GP2, I feel part of the team already and I know they follow every race I have done with great interest. The team gave me my first F1 opportunity in 2010 in Abu Dhabi, however for this test at Silverstone I am much better prepared from a technical and fitness point of view. With the limited testing available in Formula 1, any time a young driver can spend in an F1 car is valuable for the future.”
Max Chilton and Rio Haryanto sit 5th and 15th in the GP2 Drivers’ Championship standings respectively, with the latter only 14 races in to his GP2 career after graduating from GP3. Both drivers will naturally be eager to use their valuable time within a Formula 1 car to show the Marussia F1 team their worth as a potential candidate for that big leap into the world of Formula 1.
Picture Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service
Rio Haryanto Receives Grid Drop For Silverstone
Indonesian driver Rio Haryanto has been issued a five place grid drop for the feature race at Silverstone, after causing a collision with race leader James Calado during the sprint race at Valencia last weekend. The two were fighting for the lead, when Haryanto lunged up the inside of Calado resulting in the Carlin driver retiring from the race.
The GP3 graduate has yet to win a race in 2012, and finished a career best 5th during the feature race at Valencia. After the race, the stewards decided that Haryanto had caused the collision with Calado, and thus handed the Indonesian star a five place grid drop for the feature race at Silverstone.
James Calado suffered a frustrating weekend at Valencia, as the Briton was robbed of victory in both the feature and sprint races throughout the weekend. The Lotus driver will be hoping for a more successful weekend at Silverstone, as he attempts to take his second victory of the season.
Picture Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service
Tom Dillmann Holds Off Razia For Maiden GP2 Victory
Tom Dillmann has secured his maiden GP2 victory after a nail-biting sprint race in Bahrain, crossing the line only +0.1 seconds ahead of Luiz Razia. Championship leader Davide Valsecchi finished 3rd, after taking victory in the feature race yesterday.
Heading down into turn 1 at the start, there was mayhem as Esteban Gutierrez and Giedo van der Garde made contact. This forced the Dutchman into a spin, which in turn forced the majority of the drivers’ to take avoiding action as the Caterham spun it’s wheels causing smoke to waft over the other drivers’.
By the end of lap 1, Luiz Razia was already in 3rd position and was hunting down the iSport International of Marcus Ericsson. The Brazilian driver eventually caught and passed Ericsson into turn 1 on the 4th lap. The first corner incident between Gutierrez and van der Garde was now under investigation by the race stewards, however it was later announced that no further action was to be taken. Johnny Cecotto jr. became the first retirement, with what looked like a mechanical failure on lap 1.
The Swedish driver of Marcus Ericsson made the race even more difficult for himself, as he collided with a polystyrene brake marker which was on the track. This caused slight damage to his front wing, and he began to slip down the order thereafter.
After dominating the feature race, Davide Valsecchi was not having the sprint race all his own way, and was passed by the Lotus of Esteban Gutierrez for 5th place. Gutierrez then charged on and passed GP3 graduate Rio Haryanto for 3rd, as Valsecchi finally made a move on Ericsson for 5th place.
Davide Valsecchi then began his race charge, passing Haryanto for 4th on lap 12 before reeling in the Mexican of Esteban Gutierrez. Heading down into the tight turn 8, Davide Valsecchi lunged up the inside of Gutierrez, snatching 3rd place away from the Lotus driver.
As the race entered it’s closing stages, GP3 graduate Tom Dillmann came under serious pressure from Luiz Razia. The Frenchman never won a race in GP3 in 2011, and looked set to take his maiden victory in Bahrain. However, as the laps faded away Razia closed right up on Dillmann, with the two crossing the line on the final lap only three tenths apart.
With the scenario similar to that of the 1992 Monaco Grand Prix where Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna jostled for the lead in the closing stages, Luiz Razia tried his hardest to find a way around the 23-year-old Rapax driver. However, it was not to be and Tom Dillmann crossed the line in sensational style to take his maiden GP2 victory only a tenth ahead of the Brazilian.
Results - 23 laps:
Pos Driver Team Time/Gap
1. Tom Dillmann Rapax 41m16.276s
2. Luiz Razia Arden + 0.198s
3. Davide Valsecchi DAMS + 3.958s
4. Esteban Gutierrez Lotus + 16.488s
5. Felipe Nasr DAMS + 18.602s
6. Rio Haryanto Carlin + 20.425s
7. Marcus Ericsson iSport + 26.294s
8. Fabio Leimer Racing Engineering + 29.605s
9. Fabio Onidi Coloni + 33.490s
10. Nathanael Berthon Racing Engineering + 34.078s
11. Nigel Melker Ocean + 43.463s
12. James Calado Lotus + 44.371s
13. Max Chilton Carlin + 46.743s
14. Julian Leal Trident + 47.439s
15. Rodolfo Gonzalez Caterham + 54.991s
16. Brendon Hartley Ocean + 59.764s
17. Stephane Richelmi Trident + 1m00.655s
18. Stefano Coletti Coloni + 1m02.090s
19. Giedo van der Garde Caterham + 1m02.632s
20. Ricardo Teixeira Rapax + 1m07.468s
21. Giancarlo Serenelli Lazarus + 1m08.293s
22. Jolyon Palmer iSport + 1m18.688s
23. Fabrizio Crestani Lazarus + 1m26.049s
Retirements:
Simon Trummer Arden 21 laps
Dani Clos Addax 19 laps
Johnny Cecotto Addax 0 laps
Picture Copyright © Glenn Dunbar/GP2 Series Media Service
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