Perera wins thrilling final in China

Perera started from the wrong slot on the grid, taking FC Porto driver Earl Bamber's position of sixth instead of fifth. That was not such a bad thing, as poleman Max Wissel (FC Basel) was taken out at the first corner by Ben Hanley (Olympiacos), who appeared to totally miss his braking point. Both GU Racing cars were out on the spot, while points leader Davide Rigon (Anderlecht) spun in sympathy.

That left Buurman in the lead, and he finished the first lap 1.8 seconds clear of Bamber and Perera. Buurman was clearly struggling for pace, however, as Bamber reeled him in, but as he tried to attack on lap three, Perera jumped ahead of Bamber at Turn 16 to snatch second.

A fantastic sequence of side-by-side racing then unfolded between the three cars, who slowed themselves up so much that Rigon, who was 8s down on lap two, was right in the mix by lap four!

Perera passed Buurman for the lead at Turn 2 on lap four, and scampered away to victory. Bamber took second from Buurman three corners later, and Rigon also nipping past as Buurman coasted to the finish with a technical problem.

The results remain provisional as the stewards are deciding what to do about the start, as Perera and Bamber were in the wrong positions.

Pos  Driver          Team                      Time/Gap
 1.  Franck Perera   Girondins de Bordeaux    7m50.157s
 2.  Earl Bamber     FC Porto                  + 2.840s
 3.  Davide Rigon    RSC Anderlecht            + 3.906s
 4.  Yelmer Buurman  AC Milan               + 1m07.125s

Retirements:

     Ben Hanley      Olympiacos             0 laps
     Max Wissel      FC Basel               0 laps