2010 German GP2 round
Encyclopedia
The 2010 German GP2 round was a GP2 Series
motor race held on July 24 and 25, 2010 at Hockenheimring
in Hockenheim
, Germany
. It was the sixth round of the 2010 GP2 Season and the fifth round of the 2010 GP3 Season. The race was used to support the 2010 German Grand Prix
. The round marked the return to Hockenheim after the Nürburgring held the previous year's event, due to the German Grand Prix rotation. In GP3's first visit to Germany, Robert Wickens
took his first GP3 victory in a chaotic Race 1, while dominant championship leader Esteban Gutierrez
took Race 2 honours.
extended his GP2 Series points lead by claiming his fourth victory of the season in the feature race at Hockenheim. The Rapax driver took the lead at the start when polesitter Charles Pic
(Arden
) was slow off the line, and aside from one lap during the pitstop cycle he led the entire race from there on. Addax's Sergio Pérez
gave Maldonado some trouble during the first stint, but all of the Mexican's attempts to get past were easily defended. He was unable to summon the same sort of pace from his second set of tyres though, and Maldonado went on to take a comfortable 3.8-second win, with Pic completing the podium. Dani Clos
(Racing Engineering
) took fourth, while Jules Bianchi
was fifth for ART
, taking the fastest lap along the way, with Super Nova's
Marcus Ericsson
, Trident's
Adrian Zaugg
and iSport's
Oliver Turvey
completing the points-scorers. ART's Sam Bird
had a nightmare race, starting towards the back of the field after crashing in qualifying and then being given a drivethrough penalty for causing a collision with Giedo van der Garde
while fighting the Dutch Addax driver for 10th. It was also a difficult afternoon for series returnee Romain Grosjean
, who was hit from behind by Racing Engineering's Christian Vietoris
and had to pit for repairs. He rejoined the race three laps down, and DAMS'
misery was completed when Ho-Pin Tung
retired at mid-distance. The Chinese driver had joined his team-mate in the pits at the end of the first lap after breaking his front wing on the Coloni Dallara of Alberto Valerio.
was eliminated in a late crash. Perez's victory came fairly easily, the Addax driver picking off Trident's Adrian Zaugg and iSport's Oliver Turvey to take the lead on lap 10, and then building a gap that had grown to 6.3s by the time he took the flag. Polesitter Turvey was initially beaten off the line by Zaugg and Super Nova's Marcus Ericsson, but the Briton reclaimed second from Ericsson on the opening lap and then passed Zaugg for the lead a lap later. Zaugg had no answer to Turvey's pace, but he still had enough to hold onto third and give Trident its first podium since Mike Conway
won in Monaco in 2008. But the real story of the race was Romain Grosjean's drive from the back of the field; the Franco-Swiss driver methodically gaining places to eventually find himself on the end of a four-way scrap for fifth with Racing Engineering's Dani Clos, ART's Sam Bird and Maldonado. Grosjean passed Maldonado for seventh with a couple of laps remaining, but things came to a head when Bird dived inside Clos for fifth at the hairpin. Grosjean tried to follow the Briton through and looked to have succeeded, but the opportunistic Maldonado had simultaneously tried to slip to the inside of both of them. Bird made his move stick, but Grosjean and Maldonado collided at the exit of the corner, putting both out of the race. The crash was subject to a post-race investigation by the stewards that the results of which have not yet been released. Bird's drive to fifth had been almost as impressive as Grosjean's effort given that he's started from 14th, and he finished just behind team-mate Jules Bianchi. Clos held on for the final point.
GP2 Series
The GP2 Series, GP2 for short, is a form of open wheel motor racing introduced in 2005 following the discontinuation of the long-term Formula One feeder series, Formula 3000. The format was conceived by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, while Ecclestone also has the rights to the name GP1...
motor race held on July 24 and 25, 2010 at Hockenheimring
Hockenheimring
The Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg is an automobile racing track situated near the town of Hockenheim in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, located on Bertha Benz Memorial Route. Amongst other motor racing events, it biennially hosts the Formula One German Grand Prix...
in Hockenheim
Hockenheim
Hockenheim is a German town in northwest Baden-Württemberg, about 20 km south of Mannheim. It is located in the Upper Rhine valley on the touristical theme routes Baden Asparagus Route and Bertha Benz Memorial Route...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It was the sixth round of the 2010 GP2 Season and the fifth round of the 2010 GP3 Season. The race was used to support the 2010 German Grand Prix
2010 German Grand Prix
The 2010 German Grand Prix was the eleventh round of the 2010 Formula One season. It was held in Hockenheim, Germany on 25 July 2010. The race was won by Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso after Felipe Massa controversially slowed to let Alonso through into the lead on lap 49...
. The round marked the return to Hockenheim after the Nürburgring held the previous year's event, due to the German Grand Prix rotation. In GP3's first visit to Germany, Robert Wickens
Robert Wickens
Robert Tyler Wickens is a Canadian racing driver, currently driving in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series. In 2009 he finished in second place in the FIA Formula Two Championship, and in 2010 he was runner-up in the GP3 Series...
took his first GP3 victory in a chaotic Race 1, while dominant championship leader Esteban Gutierrez
Esteban Gutiérrez
Esteban Manuel Gutiérrez Gutiérrez is a Mexican race car driver. He is the reigning GP3 Champion, having won the title in the series' inaugural 2010 season...
took Race 2 honours.
Feature Race
Pastor MaldonadoPastor Maldonado
Pastor Rafael Maldonado Motta is a Venezuelan Formula One driver. Before making his Formula One debut in 2011, he won the 2010 GP2 championship.-Formula Renault:...
extended his GP2 Series points lead by claiming his fourth victory of the season in the feature race at Hockenheim. The Rapax driver took the lead at the start when polesitter Charles Pic
Charles Pic
Charles Pic is a French racing driver who will race in Formula One in with Marussia.-Karting:...
(Arden
Arden International
Arden International is an GP2 Series team, created by Christian Horner.Initially created to raise up Horner's career, and then reliant on sponsorship from Viktor Maslov, the team began to get good results and was the best team of Formula 3000 in its last years, showing new talents to motorsport...
) was slow off the line, and aside from one lap during the pitstop cycle he led the entire race from there on. Addax's Sergio Pérez
Sergio Pérez
Sergio Pérez Mendoza , also known as "Checo" Pérez, is a Mexican racing driver of Spanish descent, currently racing for Sauber in the 2011 Formula One season...
gave Maldonado some trouble during the first stint, but all of the Mexican's attempts to get past were easily defended. He was unable to summon the same sort of pace from his second set of tyres though, and Maldonado went on to take a comfortable 3.8-second win, with Pic completing the podium. Dani Clos
Dani Clos
Daniel Clos Álvarez is a Spanish racing driver who is competing in the GP2 Series with Racing Engineering, the team that won the drivers' championship with Giorgio Pantano in 2008.-Karting:...
(Racing Engineering
Racing Engineering
Racing Engineering is a Spanish racing team founded in 1999 by Alfonso de Orléans-Borbón. The team's headquarters are located in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, near Jerez, in a state-of-the-art factory, where all car preparation and race team organization is based....
) took fourth, while Jules Bianchi
Jules Bianchi
Jules Bianchi is a French racing driver.-Family:Jules is the grandson of Mauro Bianchi, three-times World Champion in the GT category, and the grandnephew of Lucien, who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and competed in nineteen Grands Prix in the Formula One World Championship between and , with a...
was fifth for ART
ART Grand Prix
Lotus ART is a French motor racing team that competes in formula single-seaters in Europe. It was founded as ART Grand Prix in 1991.-Creation:...
, taking the fastest lap along the way, with Super Nova's
Super Nova Racing
Super Nova Racing is a British racing team that has competed in Formula 3000/GP2 and the A1 Grand Prix series. Super Nova first entered racing in 1991...
Marcus Ericsson
Marcus Ericsson
Marcus Ericsson is a Swedish race car driver. After a successful début in car racing in 2007 which saw him take the British Formula BMW title with Fortec Motorsport, he moved up into the British team's British Formula Three squad...
, Trident's
Trident Racing
Trident Racing is a motor racing team that competes in single seater formula racing. It was founded in 2006 in order to compete in the GP2 championship, which is Europe's highest-ranking single-seater formula below Formula One. GP2 functions as an official support championship to Formula One and...
Adrian Zaugg
Adrian Zaugg
Adrian Zaugg is a South African race car driver.-Complete A1 Grand Prix results: -Complete GP2 Series results:...
and iSport's
ISport International
iSport International is a British championship winning motor racing team that competes in the GP2 Series and GP2 Asia Series, the official feeder series for Formula One. It was founded in 2004.- Overview :...
Oliver Turvey
Oliver Turvey
Oliver Jonathan Turvey is a British racing driver. He was a notable kart racer, with two national titles, and was the 2006 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner. His career has been supported by the Racing Steps Foundation....
completing the points-scorers. ART's Sam Bird
Sam Bird
Sam Bird is a British racing driver; he was educated at Millfield School in Somerset.-Formula BMW:Bird made his name in single seater racing in the Formula BMW category, coming fourteenth overall in his debut season and second in the rookie cup...
had a nightmare race, starting towards the back of the field after crashing in qualifying and then being given a drivethrough penalty for causing a collision with Giedo van der Garde
Giedo van der Garde
Giedo van der Garde is a Dutch racing driver.-Karting:Van der Garde has a successful karting career, winning the Dutch championship in 1998...
while fighting the Dutch Addax driver for 10th. It was also a difficult afternoon for series returnee Romain Grosjean
Romain Grosjean
Romain Grosjean is a racing driver, who holds dual nationality from France and Switzerland, but competes under a French racing licence. He was the 2007 Formula Three Euroseries drivers' champion and the inaugural GP2 Asia Series champion and drove in Formula One in 2009...
, who was hit from behind by Racing Engineering's Christian Vietoris
Christian Vietoris
Christian Vietoris is a German racing driver.-Karting:Vietoris started his career through karting, the most common entry point and all racing drivers, in 1994...
and had to pit for repairs. He rejoined the race three laps down, and DAMS'
DAMS
Driot-Arnoux Motorsport is a racing team from France, involved in many areas of motorsports. DAMS was founded in 1988 by Jean-Paul Driot and former Formula One driver René Arnoux. It is headquartered near Le Mans, only 2 km from the Bugatti Circuit.- History :The year after its foundation,...
misery was completed when Ho-Pin Tung
Ho-Pin Tung
Ho-Pin Tung is a Chinese-Dutch auto-racing driver who races with a Chinese license.-Career:Tung started kart racing in the Netherlands in 1997 before graduating to single-seaters. He won the 2003 Formula BMW Asia series and was rewarded with a test drive with the Williams F1 team.In 2004 he joined...
retired at mid-distance. The Chinese driver had joined his team-mate in the pits at the end of the first lap after breaking his front wing on the Coloni Dallara of Alberto Valerio.
Sprint Race
Sergio Pérez took his third win of the season in the Hockenheim sprint race, while points leader Pastor MaldonadoPastor Maldonado
Pastor Rafael Maldonado Motta is a Venezuelan Formula One driver. Before making his Formula One debut in 2011, he won the 2010 GP2 championship.-Formula Renault:...
was eliminated in a late crash. Perez's victory came fairly easily, the Addax driver picking off Trident's Adrian Zaugg and iSport's Oliver Turvey to take the lead on lap 10, and then building a gap that had grown to 6.3s by the time he took the flag. Polesitter Turvey was initially beaten off the line by Zaugg and Super Nova's Marcus Ericsson, but the Briton reclaimed second from Ericsson on the opening lap and then passed Zaugg for the lead a lap later. Zaugg had no answer to Turvey's pace, but he still had enough to hold onto third and give Trident its first podium since Mike Conway
Mike Conway
Mike Conway, born 19 August 1983, is a British racing driver. He lives in Sevenoaks, Kent and is currently competing in the IZOD IndyCar Series.- Biography :Conway who was born in Bromley, Kent, England attended Sevenoaks Prep School from 1986 to 1996....
won in Monaco in 2008. But the real story of the race was Romain Grosjean's drive from the back of the field; the Franco-Swiss driver methodically gaining places to eventually find himself on the end of a four-way scrap for fifth with Racing Engineering's Dani Clos, ART's Sam Bird and Maldonado. Grosjean passed Maldonado for seventh with a couple of laps remaining, but things came to a head when Bird dived inside Clos for fifth at the hairpin. Grosjean tried to follow the Briton through and looked to have succeeded, but the opportunistic Maldonado had simultaneously tried to slip to the inside of both of them. Bird made his move stick, but Grosjean and Maldonado collided at the exit of the corner, putting both out of the race. The crash was subject to a post-race investigation by the stewards that the results of which have not yet been released. Bird's drive to fifth had been almost as impressive as Grosjean's effort given that he's started from 14th, and he finished just behind team-mate Jules Bianchi. Clos held on for the final point.
External Links
- http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/85455
- http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/85503
- http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/85529