The Empire Ancevski strikes back
The Serb secured an important win today, reducing the gap to championship leader Hunsley who had to settle for second after having started from pole. Rinneaho completed the podium with only his second points finish this season.
At the start Hunsley converted the pole in an early lead, behind him the McLarens swapped places. Kederer could get past Engberink to 6th. Ancevski quickly could get past Foro, and was hunting down Keranen when the Aussie ran off in turn 13 of lap 3, slamming in the wall. The hard impact threw the car back on track, where it was collected by Utzer. Both were out, and Martins had to pit to repair damage, having collected one of the many parts flying around. Ancevski was up to 2nd now, behind him both Rinneaho and Kederer got past Foro. The day of the Prost team was over soon after, first Sigoulakis hit the wall in turn 14, a bit later Wolf crashed out in turn 1. Ishikawa too crashed out before the first stops.
Hunsley and Ancevski pitted ealry, as both were on a 3 stop strategy, and dropped behind Rinneaho and Kederer. After those 2 pitted as well a couple of laps later the order of the top 4 was the same as before the stops. Goddard and Black were running in 5th and 6th now. In the meantime Engberink's race had ended as well, he crashed out soon after having pitted. In lap 31 Ancevski made the decisive move on Hunsley and took the lead, which he kept until the end except for a few laps during their second stops. Black got past Goddard when the Minardi driver made his second of three stops. Goddard got back to 5th briefly, before his final stop put him down to 8th. Black went on to take 5th, while Buurlage got the final point for 6th, despite an early mistake which had cost him a couple of positions.
FIA Press Conference
@Milos: Important win today, does it keep your hopes alive?
@Jack Hunsley: Was second the best result possible today?
@TTupsi: Happy to finally have scored some points again?
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