RUSSIAN TIME GP2
GP2 Series, Round 8, Monza Race 2, September 06, 2015
Mitch Evans scored a superb victory with additional points for fastest lap in the
Monza reverse grid GP2 race to add to the third place podium he achieved in
Saturday’s feature race. It was Russian Time’s first win of 2015 and adds to the
victories Evans scored with the team at Silverstone and Hockenheim last year.
Evans lined up sixth on the grid, made a fine start and was third at the end of the
opening lap, behind leader Arthur Pic and Richie Stanaway. Evans passed his Kiwi
compatriot Stanaway into Monza’s tight first chicane on lap 4 and superbly repeated
the move, on the limit, to take the lead from Pic on the very last lap. Series leader
Stoffel Vandoorne finished a close third, all three cars covered by just one second.
Team mate Artem Markelov’s hopes of a fourth consecutive points finish evaporated
with a poor start from fourth on the grid. Despite giving his all, as usual, he crossed
the line in ninth position, just 0.3s behind the last point-scoring position.
Mitch Evans: ”That was a fantastic race! I had a good start and first lap, then passed
Stanaway. I brought down the gap to Pic but for some reason, maybe due to warmer
conditions, the DRS didn’t seem as effective today. I got a good run out of Parabolica
on the penultimate lap, was as close as I’d been and just went for it. I almost locked
the rears but held it together, defended at the Lesmos and managed to pull off the
win off. Really satisfying and I want to thank the team for all the hard work.”
Artem Markelov: “When the lights changed the car bogged down and I was passed
on both sides and dropped three positions. That was frustrating and after that it was
really tough to get into DRS range to go forward. Unfortunately I had people behind
getting into range of me and I was forced to drive more of a defensive race than an
attacking one.”
Svetlana Strelnikova, team principal: ”Congratulations to Mitch on a fantastic
drive in which he did everything right – defending from Vandoorne and then pulling
a lovely, clean move to take the win on the last lap. Artem’s start unfortunately
spoiled his chances but we have taken 85 points from the last two events, which has
moved us ahead of Rapax in the teams’ championship and put us within striking
distance of DAMS. After difficult mid-season races, that is a great boost for the whole
team ahead of our home race at Sochi next month.”
ENDS