Duran takes spirited Silverstone win
Salvador Duran produced one of the most spirited drives of the Formula Renault 3.5 season so far to charge from fifth on the grid to victory at Silverstone
The Telmex-backed driver shrugged off a flapping front wing to reel in and pass long-time leader Marcos Martinez with just eight laps remaining. He kept up his searing pace to stretch out a 13-second winning margin.
Martinez held on to finish second and claim his first podium of the year for Pons Racing. The Spaniard leapt between the front row of Alvaro Barba and Fabio Carbone to lead from his fourth place grid slot.
Martinez's first position was relinquished to Duran on the entry to Stowe on lap 18, where the Interwetten driver proved braver on the brakes.
Pole-sitter Alvaro Barba was a threat to Martinez in the early laps, as the pair pulled clear of Fabio Carbone, but a loose radio disrupted Barba's race by fouling the foot-well, forcing the Spaniard to settle for third.
"It was so difficult to drive like that," he said. "It was very difficult to brake and I think without it I could have challenged for victory."
Barba's younger brother, Marco, spun his Draco machine out of fourth at Abbey on lap one while under pressure from Duran. Duran then set about hounding Carbone into an error, and passed the Brazilian at Abbey, where he also went on to pass Alvaro Barba.
In the final laps, the battle for fourth place provided the most entertainment. Carbone successfully defended his position from championship leader Giedo van der Garde, and KTR's Guillaume Moreau. Carlin's Robert Wickens had split van der Garde and Moreau, but spun at Brooklands. The Canadian has pole-position for race tomorrow's pit-stop race, though.
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Salvador Duran Interwetten 41:38.861
2. Marcos Martinez Pons +13.852
3. Alvaro Barba Prema +19.150
4. Fabio Carbone Ultimate +21.523
5. Giedo van der Garde P1 +21.972
6. Guillaume Moreau KTR +22.525
7. Bertrand Baguette Draco +23.221
8. Julien Jousse Tech 1 +23.554
9. Marco Bonanomi Comtec +25.801
10. Robert Wickens Carlin +26.132
11. James Walker Fortec +32.832
12. Pasquale di Sabatino Comtec +46.088
13. Marco Barba Draco +46.628
14. Maximo Cortes Pons +49.660
15. Charles Pic Tech 1 +50.841
16. Duncan Tappy RC +57.027
17. Alex Marsoin Epsilon +59.418
18. Mario Romancini Epsilon +1:03.510
19. Pippa Mann P1 +1:04.087
20. Aleix Alcaraz RC +1:05.072
21. Pablo Sanchez Interwetten +1:12.325
22. Esteban Guerrieri Ultimate +1:14.334
23. Miguel Molina Prema +1:34.055
Retirements:
Driver Team Laps
Daniil Move KTR 23 laps
Fairuz Fauzy Fortec 13 laps
Mikhail Aleshin Carlin 5 laps
Fastest lap, Duran 1:35.130 on lap 24
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