Posted by Blogger Name. Category:
GP2
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GP3
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Mitch Evans
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Motorsport
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Richie Stanaway
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Silverstone
For the 50th time, the British F1 Grand Prix was raced at the historic Silverstone circuit overnight. And although you'd either need to be a motorsport fanatic, a Sky Sport subscriber or have to dig deeply on the internet, two New Zealand drivers stood on the top step of the Silverstone podium in support races.
Mitch Evans got the best possible 20th birthday present (it was only 12 days late!) with his first win in the GP2 series; the Herald reports:
New Zealand driver Mitch Evans took his first GP2 Series victory after a storming drive at the British Grand Prix round in Britain overnight.
Just twelve days after turning 20 - and four rounds into his second GP2 season - the former GP3 Champion put in a mature and masterful performance to soundly beat overall series leader Jolyon Palmer by 4.9 seconds.
Third-placed McLaren Formula 1 protégé Stoffel Vandoorne was a distant 25.6 seconds behind the flying Evans at the finish.
Evans started third on the 26-car grid and his Russian Time car snatched the lead by undercutting Palmer during the mandatory pit stop to change tyres.
He held off a spirited challenge from Palmer on the fast sweeping Silverstone circuit, before pulling steadily away to win the 29 lap race with a string of fastest lap times.
And last night it was Richie Stanaway's turn in GP3; Autosport.com reports:
Local team Status Grand Prix scored a 1-2 finish at its home track in GP3 race two at Silverstone, as Richie Stanaway beat team-mate Nick Yelloly to victory by 2.7s.
Poleman Dino Zamparelli made a poor start, allowing Stanaway to jump into the lead ahead of Carlin's Emil Bernstorff and Yelloly, as Zamparelli fell to fifth behind ART team-mate Marvin Kirchhofer.
Yelloly passed Bernstorff for second at around the outside of Brooklands on lap two.
Further back, yesterday's winner Jimmy Eriksson duelled again with points leader Alex Lynn, but this time over 11th place as both had made abject getaways.
Stanaway was unchallenged at the front, and recorded his first victory in the series since 2011. He was followed home by the distant Yelloly, Bernstorff and Kirchhofer.
These are two fantastic results from talented young New Zealand drivers competing against the best in the world in their respective classes. Motor racing at this level is hugely expensive, and both drivers have had to put together significant sponsorship packages to even get a drive, let alone finish at the pointy end of the field.
Mitch Evans graduated to GP2 after winning the GP3 series two tears ago. Richie Stanaway may not yet be quite at that level, but this weekend's win will be a real fillip for his career and confidence. Neither driver will have done their future prospects any harm with their drives this weekend.
Well done Mitch and Richie!
