Saturday 30th July, 2011

Finn takes lights-to-flag victory at Hungaroring

Today rookie Valtteri Bottas became the first GP3 driver to win more than one race this season, and showed he is ‘in it to win it’ in the battle to become the 2011 GP3 Series™ champion. The Lotus ART driver took a lights-to-flag victory at Hungaroring to finish 0.9 seconds ahead of Michael Christensen.

When the lights went out Bottas pulled away well, to keep the lead of the 16-lap race with teammate James Calado and MW Arden’s Mitch Evans battling hard behind at the start. Whilst the Brit and New Zealander jostled for position, RSC Mücke Motorsport’s Christensen made a strong start from fifth on the grid and drove right around the outside of the battling pair to pinch second spot. Evans and Calado then came together on track with Calado spinning but able to rejoin in last place. Evans re-entered the pits and retired.

By the end of the first lap Bottas had pulled out a 1. 2 second lead over Christensen. Behind them, Adrian Quaife-Hobbs had moved up in to third after a storming start from ninth. The Marussia Manor Racing driver was then locked in a race long battle with Series leader Alexander Sims and Jenzer Motorsport’s Nico Müller for the final podium spot – Sims having moved up seven spots from the start.

As the race progressed Christensen matched Bottas’ pace, but was unable to mount a real challenge for the lead of the race with the Finn nearly two seconds down the road. Sims was pushing Quaife-Hobbs hard for third, but in the final few laps he found himself defending just as hard from a charging Müller.

By the chequered flag Christensen had managed to bring the gap at the front to under one second but could do nothing to stop Bottas from taking his second GP3 victory. Quaife-Hobbs held on to third spot ahead of Sims and Müller. Aaro Vainio, Lewis Williamson and Tom Dillmann were the final points scorers. The Frenchman from Addax Team will start tomorrow’s race from reverse pole.

Sims still leads the GP3 Series™ driver standings, but is now just 3 points ahead of Valtteri Bottas.

Next up for GP3 Series™ is Race 2 tomorrow morning at 08:30 local t