Race 2: Heikki wins for Pons
Just as Narain Karthikeyan's first-race victory was a copybook effort, so was Heikki Kovalainen's win in the second at Magny-Cours today (Sunday). The Finn's handsome triumph was the first for the newly-formed Pons Racing team. The squad, owned by famous motorcycle racer Sito Pons has only branched into top-line car racing this year, whilst continuing torun in Moto GP
Kovalainen streaked away from pole position, stayed out for as long as permissible until his crew executed a perfect pitstop that let him back out with his advantage intact. He was several seconds ahead of nearest rival Tristan Gommendy at the flag.
Gommendy had got ahead of Karthikeyan into Estoril corner on the first lap, and then spent the first half of the race fending off the Indian. But Karthikeyan then got a drive-through penalty for speeding at his first stop, and so dropped out of podium contention. He still finished in fourth, behind Epsilon Euskadi driver Ander Vilarino, who made up for a disappointing first race with this podium finish.
Heikki Kovalainen (Pons Racing) 38m21.246s
Tristan Gommendy (Saulnier Racing) +7.262s
Ander Vilarino (Epsilon Euskadi)
Narain Karthikeyan (RC Motorsport)
Tiago Monteiro (Carlin Motorsport)
Bruce Jouanny (KTR)
Share Or Save This Story
Beitske Visser joins Pons as one of three additions to F3.5 V8 grid
Manor F1 driver Roberto Merhi in race to make Pons FR3.5 test
Ex-Caterham F1 tester Roberto Merhi joins Pons for FR3.5 return
From the archive: When Niki Lauda led an F1 driver strike in 1982
'Antonelli and Sinner, Sinner and Antonelli' - Italy should handle its latest sporting hero with care
Sky Sports extends F1 live broadcast contract
The intrigue sparked by Red Bull's Miami sidepod design
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments