Silverstone - GP2 - Race 2Lewis Hamilton put in one of the drives of the 2006 season to date to wrap up his second win on home soil this weekend. Starting eighth after winning yesterday’s feature race, the ART Grand Prix driver put in a sensational drive to take the chequered
flag from Felix Porteiro and Adam Carroll, as the Ulsterman made his second visit to the podium in as many days.
At the start third placed Alex Prémat stalled, calling for a second formation lap. As pole-sitter Porteir brought the cars round, Clivio Piccione lined up in second ahead of only 20 other cars with Alex forced to start in the pits. The depleted field had been caused by Ferdinando Monfardini pulling out of the race following his accident yesterday, and the exclusion of Durango after their cars were found to be in breach of GP2 series Technical Regulations.
As the lights went out, Porteir made a perfect getaway, followed by Piccione, Giorgio Pantano and Nelson Piquet Jr, who was quickly past the Italian and up into third position. Hamilton meanwhile was beginning his charge. He was past Timo Glock at the start and soon found his way past Adam Carroll, sucking up the slipstream on Hangar Straight and slotting past into Stowe. He was now all over Pantano but the Italian put up a staunch defense, just as Piccione was doing to the attacks of Nelson a few metres up the road.
Further back, Arden International’s weekend turned from bad to worse as Michael Ammermuller took out team-mate Neel Jani, prompting the appearance of the safety car. By lap eighth the cars were clear to go again and Porteir controlled the pace wonderfully. Hamilton saw his opportunity to get by Pantano and the pair ran side-by-side down the straight, with the Briton gaining the position into Copse.
Next on his radar was Piquet who himself was still trying to pass Piccione. Into Maggotts Piquet jinked to Piccione’s left, Hamilton to his right, and they ran three abreast through the corner. Hamilton came out on top of the audacious move, sweeping past both his rivals as Piquet slid off the track allowing Pantano and Carroll through.
Hamilton quickly caught Porteir, but the Spaniard was driving a superb race and held the championship leader at bay for lap after lap. Finally however, with 11 laps left, Hamilton made it past. He took a look up the inside of Bridge but Porteir held his line forcing Hamilton to change ideas into Brooklands. Again Porteir held position before Hamilton pulled out a brilliant move up the inside of Luffield. The lead was his and he would pull out a second a lap until the flag fell.
Behind Hamilton, Porteir held on for second position ahead of Adam Carroll who had stormed through to take his second podium of the weekend, Piccione in fourth, Pantano fifth and Piquet sixth. Hamilton scored the point for fastest lap, meaning he finished his home weekend just missing the pole position points which would have given him a perfect total.
Lewis Hamilton, ART Grand Prix
"Hopefully it's just a continuation of my success and my drive to get to Formula One. I’m working my arse off not only to do the best job possible, but also to get that seat at McLaren; I really want that, and it's an opportunity that not many people get."
Felix Porteiro, Campos Racing
"I am very happy; at the beginning of the week I couldn't believe that we would be second and take six points, and we will see what happens in the next races."
Adam Carroll, Racing Engineering
"GP2 racing is so good, and we proved that today. The guys battled really well, drove really hard, and when the opportunity came around we were in a good position to make the most of it."
Source GP2
