Switzerland's Sebastien Buemi was handed his maiden GP2 win today in the feature race of the second round of 2008 GP2 Asia Series.
It was very hot and humid this afternoon in Sentul for the feature race of the second round of the inaugural 2008 GP2 Asia Series.
Though it was expected, even feared, the rain never came, but that did not prevent for the race to be eventful! After only two laps, Adam Khan crashed into Bakkerud who then hit Harald Schleghelmilch. The safety car was deployed on Lap 2 and brought all the front runners in to make their compulsory pit stop. This left Bruno Senna leading the race, followed by Hiroki Yoshimoto and five other drivers who decided to stay on track. Pole man Petrov came back in 8th place, while Valles passed Filippi in the pits. Things were a little bit more complicated for Championship leader Romain Grosjean during his pit stop and he came back out on 18th place.
The race restarted on lap 12 and the two front-runners maintained a rapid pace with Bruno Senna setting the fastest lap time. But the gap he managed to secure was wiped out mid-race by another safety car when Diego Nunes crashed his DPR car into the wall on the start/finish straight. At the second restart, Senna, Yoshimoto, Herck and Valerio still had to pit. Petrov was running third with Filippi, Buemi and Valles in tow. Romain Grosjean had made his way up to 9th position, behind another RDD driver and rookie, Ben Hanley who had started from 18th.
Senna and Yoshimoto were handed a drive-through penalty at the restart for overtaking the safety car before it had crossed the line at the beginning of the pit lane. When Petrov went into the gravel and dropped to 6th, this left Filippi leading the race from Buemi, Valles, Hanley and Grosjean. Bruno Senna managed to get back into the Top 8 by the end of the race.
While Filippi crossed the finish line a winner, the victory was eventually handed to Sebastien Buemi after the Italian was found to have used tyres allocated to his teammate, Yoshimoto. Adrian Valles was declared second and rookie Ben Hanley was handed his first GP2 podium finish in his first GP2 race ever. Romain Grosjean still leads the drivers' championship.
Sebastien Buemi (Trust Team Arden): After the difficult weekend we had in Dubai, I really wanted to get back in the front. I didn't qualify as well as I wanted, but I pushed until the very last lap and it paid off. The team did a good job. I will now start from 8th tomorrow. Anything can happen on this track, so I'll try and make a good start and then we'll see.
Adrian Valles (FMS International): Since the beginning of the Asia Series, we are quick and consistent. This morning, we lost pole because Petrov had a better strategy. For the race, we were expecting rain, so we set up the car for it. That's why I wasn't as fast as I could have been.
Ben Hanley (Barwa International Campos Team): I'm so happy to be able to offer this podium to the team after Petrov snatched pole this morning. Today has had its ups and downs, but it finished on a high note. Starting from 18th and for my first GP2 Race ever, I was aiming at points. Now, third is a nice bonus.
To check out our Sentul Race 1 gallery, click here
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