Kovalainen closes on title

The Finn relinquished the lead just the once as the pitstops unfolded, but resumed his place at the front, eking out a confortable cushion on his nearest rival, Pons Racing team-mate Adrian Valles.

The deployment of the safety car towards the end of the race closed the field leaving a one-lap dash to the chequered flag. Kovalainen held on with ease, though, and is now odds on favourite to take the title.

Valles held onto second spot to make it a one-two for the team whoch only joined the championship this year. RC Motorsport's Narain Karthikeyan looked certain to take the final podium spot heading in for his pitstop, but a mistake dropped the Indian to fourth.

Saulnier Racing's Tristan Gommendy took advantage of the slip to take third.

Kovalainen's nearest challenger for the title, Tiago Monteiro finished seventh and now only has a slender chance of beating the flying Finn.

Felix Porteiro Epsilon Euskadi 26mins 32.107secs 17 laps
Heikki Kovalainen Pons Racing +1.261s
Enrique Bernoldi GD Racing +3.733s
Tristan Gommendy Saulnier Racing +4.106s
Narain Karthikeyan RC Motorsport +4.960s
Sergio Hernandez Saulnier Racing +14.116s
Juan Cruz Alvarez Gabord Reyco +15.164s
Jean-Christophe Ravier Epsilon Euskadi +15.957s

Heikki Kovalainen Pons Racing 39m41.762s
Adrian Valles Pons Racing +1.209s
Tristan Gommendy Saulnier Racing +1.930s
Narain Karthikeyan RC Motorsport +2.260s
Juan Cruz Alvarez Gabord Reyco +3.591s
Felix Porteiro Epsilon Euskadi +4.946s
Tiago Monteiro Carlin Motorsport +5.597s
Didier Andre KTR +12.280s