Alguersuari wins feature race
Scuderia Toro Rosso's Formula 1 rookie Jaime Alguersuari delivered his first Formula Renault 3.5 victory in the feature race at Portimao on Saturday
The Spaniard was comfortably the fastest man in the race, but was made to work hard for the win by Tech 1 Racing's Charles Pic.
Competing in only his third World Series round of the season, Guillaume Moreau completed the podium for newcomers SG Formula, harassing a flu-ridden Pic to the finish.
Alguersuari positioned his car at an angle on pole position to counter a possible attack from Pic away from the line. His efforts were in vain however, as Pic powered into the lead on the downhill run into Turn 1.
Alguersuari retook first position when the Frenchman ran wide at the back of the circuit, and made full use of a new set of tyres to build a cushion of 5.9 seconds.
A safety car period on lap 16, while the damaged cars of race one winner Jon Lancaster and Anton Nebylitskiy were removed, undid all of Alguersuari's work. Pic seized his chance on the restart three laps later to briefly retake the lead, but the Red Bull driver put in an immediate, and successful, counter on the exit of Turn 1.
"I think it was a nice race for both of us in the end," said Alguersuari. "It was quite a clean race, and I could just get by into Turn 2. Obviously, Formula 1 is going quite well for me. World Series gives me good feedback and I am learning all the time as my experience increases.
"There are always many competitive drivers here, some in their second and third year. The team have worked hard to improve the car in qualifying and I hope we can stay up here for the final two meetings."
Ultimate Motorsport's Miguel Molina repeated his inspired performance from race one to finish fourth from tenth position on the grid, ahead of championship leader Bertrand Baguette.
Alguersuari's Carlin team-mate Oliver Turvey drove through the pain barrier caused by a bruised hand, the result of a collision in race one, to finish sixth.
Alguersuari's win lifts him one point ahead of compatriot Marcos Martinez into third position in the championship. Martinez retired in the pits on lap four.
Pos Driver Team Time/Gap 1. Jaime Alguersuari Carlin 37m57.020s 2. Charles Pic Tech 1 + 1.448s 3. Guillaume Moreau SG + 1.848s 4. Miguel Molina Ultimate + 3.212s 5. Bertrand Baguette Draco + 4.392s 6. Oliver Turvey Carlin + 5.120s 7. Chris van der Drift Epsilon + 5.696s 8. James Walker P1 + 6.332s 9. Dani Clos Epsilon + 6.816s 10. Daniil Move P1 + 7.708s 11. Marco Barba Draco + 8.092s 12. Filip Salaquarda Prema + 8.440s 13. Greg Mansell Ultimate + 8.920s 14. Sten Pentus Fortec + 9.200s 15. Daniel Ricciardo Tech 1 + 9.836s 16. Alberto Valerio Comtec + 10.240s 17. Julian Leal Prema + 10.740s 18. Pasquale Di Sabatino RC + 11.024s 19. Federico Leo Pons + 11.964s 20. Fairuz Fauzy Fortec + 1 lap Retirements: Jon Lancaster Comtec 15 laps Anton Nebylitskiy SG 15 laps Marcos Martinez Pons 4 laps Michael Herck Interwetten 1 laps
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