A1-Ring race 2: Glock strikes back

Paffett started from pole but was beaten away by the lightning start of Vitantonio Liuzzi, while Paffett lost a further place on the second lap to Jeffrey van Hooydonk. When title rival Kousuke Matsuura went through as well, it was obvious that Paffett was struggling with a lack of grip, especially in the A1-Ring's faster corners that precede the start/finish straight.

Paffett had just lost fourth to a charging Glock, who started seventh, when the safety car appeared for Briscoe's spectacular roll at the Remus Kurve after he clashed wheels with Bernhard Auinger. He escaped uninjured, although did get trapped half in and half out of the upturned car for a few seconds as he forgot to take the steering wheel off!

When the race restarted, it fell into Glock's hands. He made short work of Matsuura at Gosser Kurve, and took full advantage when van Hooydonk made an over-ambitious lunge on Liuzzi at Remus and grabbed second as the Belgian ran wide. Matsuura also passed van Hooydonk a corner later, which allowed Liuzzi and Glock to make a break.

The duo are good friends, and that relationship should remain intact as Glock made a very clean overtaking move which started at Remus and ended at the following Gosser Kurve. After that, he pulled away for an excellent victory.

Paffett learned to cope with his handling problems and had just pulled an excellent move on Siedler for fifth when he understeered into the gravel at Rindt Kurve on the penultimate lap and tumbled to 10th and out of the points. He holds a 29-point advantage over Matsuura, however, with just 44 on offer in the remaining four races.


1 Timo Glock, KMS Dallara-Opel, 19 laps
2 Vitantonio Liuzzi, BSR Dallara-Opel, +1.2s
3 Kousuke Matsuura, PREMA Dallara-Opel, +1.7s
4 Jeffrey van Hooydonk, Ghinzani Dallara-Mugen, +2.0s
5 Norbert Siedler, Swiss Tony Racing Team Dallara-Opel, +4.4s
6 Marcel Lasee, Mucke Dallara-Mercedes, +5.6s