The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

FIA GP3 - Conor Daly Finishes P3 In Race Two At Hockenheim


PHOTO (select to view enlarged photo)

Hockenheim, Jul. 22, 2012: Sunday morning and the Hockenheim paddock was greeted to glorious sunshine and warm temperatures, very unlike Saturday’s changeable and tricky weather conditions. Reverse pole went to Mitch Evans with local fans favourite Daniel Abt starting in P2, eager to win his home race.

As the lights went out for the start of Race 2, it was the German driver who made one his trademark lightning getaways to snatch the lead with Evans having to defend from Tamas Pal Kiss. Further back, there was a dramatic accident involving four drivers, both the Status GP cars of Lewis Williamson and Alice Powell, Carlin’s William Buller and Trident Racing’s Vicky Piria. It was a nasty shunt with Piria’s car being sent skywards and leaving a lot of debris around the circuit. The safety car was deployed to clear away the material, whilst title challenger Antonio Felix Da Costa also had a premature end to his race after stopping at turn one.

The race got underway on lap 8 and Evans was keen to make amends and get P1 back from Abt. The MW Arden driver passed the Lotus GP rookie on the inside at the hairpin to reclaim the lead of the race. The action didn’t stop there though with Fabiano Machado running wide a lap later and going airborne and landing with a large jolt whilst the medical team checked him out. The safety car was brought out for a second time and the 15 laps were completed behind the safety car as Evans took the chequered flag first for the third time this season and for good measure he also set the fastest lap.

Abt finished P2, ahead of Daly, Pal Kiss, Matias Laine and Vainio. Tio Ellinas and Giovanni Venturini completed the top 8 and the final points scores.

Evans leads the Drivers Standings with an 18 point advantage over Vainio. Abt has now moved up to third and is the highest placed rookie in the Series.

GP3 Series: Conor, another podium and more points, are you pleased with this result and how the weekend has gone?

Conor Daly: "Yes, I can't complain at all. It's so nice to have such a strong weekend without anything going wrong, no penalties and to get two podiums. We started up front and got good points for Race 1. Today was another good one, there wasn't much racing to be done today but I get the best start of my lifr and got myself up to third. That's all we could do really. I am really happy with it. We are now close to third in the championship so I am pleased to keep the momentum going from Silverstone andd hopefully get back to winning a race in the next one!"

GP3 Series: Tell us about your start as it was a great effort from seventh on the grid!

Daly: "I was fourth heading into turn two and I got Tamas Pal Kiss down the back straight and he tried to come back in the middle sector but he couldn't make it. So it was a mega lap one, it was a lot of fun!"

GP3 Series: If the safety car had not been out for the duration, do you think you could have fought for the win today?

Daly: "I don't know. I think for sure I could have challenged Daniel and I would have liked to have thought I could challenge Mitch too. Our cars were really fast and it's a new track for me so I think I would have been picking up the pace lap by lap and I believe Daniel would have been the same. I think we could have fought Mitch for the victory but that's motoracing, that's the way it is. We are ready for the next one! At least I have some experience in Budapest from last season. I like the place and if it stays dry or for us maybe it will snow or something (he laughs), I am really looking forward to it."

Round 6 of the GP3 Series is at the Hungaroring in Budapest, in less than seven days times – don’t miss the action- July 27-29 2012.

 
 
noheadline head