Kubica
brings home win for Epsilon
Preserve
the car for this afternoon's long race: that was the key message
for the World Series Formula Renault 3.5 drivers. Starting
on pole position, Robert Kubica served up a home victory for
the Basque country-based team, Epsilon Euskadi, and in doing
so, became the first driver to win two races this season!
Alongside him on the podium, Will Power (Carlin Motorsport)
and Tristan Gommendy (KTR) look to have confirmed themselves
more than ever as the Polish driver's fiercest rivals.
Robert Kubica took full advantage of his pole position to
get away quickest in the rolling start. The Polish driver
immediately moved several lengths ahead of Will Power and
Tristan Gommendy, whilst Tomas Kostka (Victory Engineering)
came into the pits, forced to abandon his race.
On
lap 2, Colin Fleming (Jenzer Motorsport) got the better of
Celso Miguez (Pons Racing), moving up to 6th position behind
Kubica, Power, Gommendy, Salignon and Toccacelo. Miguez fell
back another place on the next lap, as Christian Montanari
(Draco Multiracing USA), the winner in Monaco, moved up the
field.
At
the front Kubica pushed hard to try and build up an early
lead. After three laps, he had already established a 3-second
advantage over Power.
In
the main field, Markus Winkelhock (Draco Multiracing USA)
and Celso Miguez clashed, which led to the introduction of
the safety. Just past the half-way stage of the race, the
safety car exited and the race restarted, but Robert Kubica
had it all to do once again! Raffaele Giammaria's race (DAMS)
was brought to an end at this point, after he crashed off
the circuit.
This
time around, the leading group remained compact with Kubica,
Power and Gommendy separated by less than two seconds. The
quickest man on the circuit, Eric Salignon, had to push hard
to move out of Enrico Toccacelo's reach.
With
Power still looming large in his rear mirrors, Kubica kept
pressing, managing to set the fastest race lap in the process.
Colin
Fleming was forced to abandon his race, whilst lying in 6th
place. And then it was the turn of Andreas Zuber (Carlin Motorsport),
who had started at the back of the grid, to set the fastest
race lap and take the bonus point awarded for this performance.
Robert
Kubica: «This win was very important for the Epsilon
Euskadi team, who, as you all know, are based here in the
Basque country. I am also pleased to be the first driver to
win a second race this season. It's also a great result for
the Championship, but let's not forget that I am on the third
row for the second race.»
Will
Power: «It was impossible to make up any points on Robert
in this race. Second is good, but first is better! I hope
to repeat my win at Le Mans in the second race.»
Tristan
Gommendy: «It was difficult for us as we have had gearshift
problems since yesterday. I had a lot of difficulty in keeping
up with Will, so it's good to finish in the first three. As
for the Championship, I think that it's going to become increasingly
difficult.»
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