baronrojo

Romain Grosjean takes maiden win in Dubai
25/01/2008

Romain Grosjean scored his first win in the GP2 Asia Series opening. He is now leading the championship in front of Bruno Senna and Andy Soucek.

The French driver achieved a stellar debut in the GP2 Asia Series: after he snatched pole position this morning, Romain Grosjean managed to lead the first race and cross the finish line in first place, also taking the lead of the Championship. Behind the RDD driver, Bruno Senna and Andy Soucek offered the crowd a great show: the Spaniard overtook the Brazilian in the first lap. Then, the iSport man constantly put pressure on the DPR driver. Both men came into mid-race and resumed there positions. While Soucek was struggling with the tyres, Senna never gave up and finally overtook the Spaniard with four laps to go. Bruno Senna then set the fastest lap time, but Grosjean was already too far away.

A little further down the pack, Adrian Valles and the two Qi-Meritus boys, Luca Filippi and Hiroki Yoshimoto, made their way to the top 6, while Karun Chandhok and Fairuz Fauzy took 7th and 8th place synonym of a 100% Asian driver first row for tomorrow’s race.
The second race of the GP2 Asia Series will take place tomorrow at 1pm, local time.
Romain Grosjean (ART Grand Prix): 'This is amazing: pole position and win on my first GP2 race ever. If I had set the fastest lap time it would have been perfect, but to be completely honest, I’m more than happy. I made a good start and then I tried to keep a good pace. We managed to do a clean pit-stop , also my very first. I’m really thankful to the team. Tomorrow, Starting from the 8th position will be completely different. I am learning and I take it step by step.'
Bruno Senna (iSport International): 'As I was on the dirty part of the track, I didn't make a good start, and then I was too slow in the first lap. Andy took this opportunity to overtake me. Tomorrow, I’ll have to warm up my tyres better… Then, Soucek and I had a great fight. It's too bad I overtook him so late: even though I had the pace, Grosjean was to far away by then.'
Andy Soucek (DPR): 'Ever since this morning, we have a really good pace and I knew I could fight for the win. I could pass Senna in the first lap and then I tried to catch up with Grosjean, but Bruno pressured me and I spent a lot of time checking my mirrors and fighting back. Towards the end, I was struggling with my tyres… I'm still very happy and I’ll keep on pushing tomorrow.'
Dubai Race Result

DriverTeam

1.Romain GrosjeanART Grand Prix
2.Bruno SennaiSport International
3.Andy SoucekDPR
4.AdrianValles FMS International
5.Luca FilippiQi-Meritus Mahara
6.Hiroki YoshimotoQi-Meritus Mahara
7.KarunChandhok iSport International
8.Fairuz FauzySuper Nova Racing
9.Alberto ValerioDurango
10.MilosPavlovic BCN Competicion
11.Jérôme d’AmbrosioDams
12.Diego NunesBarwa International Campos Team
13.Kamui KobayashiDams
14.Harald SchleghelmilchTrident Racing
15.Stephen JelleyART Grand Prix
16.Marcello PuglisiPiquet Sports
17.Davide ValsecchiDurango
18.Adam KhanTrust Team Arden
19.Jason TahinciBCN Competicion
20Marco BonanomiPiquet Sports
21.Armaan EbrahimDPR
22.Ho-Pin TungTrident Racing
23.Michael HerckFMS International
24.Christian BakkerudSuper Nova Racing
25Vitaly PetrovBarwa International Campos Team

Fastest lap time: Bruno Senna (iSport International) – 1:22.462 on lap 40
Sébastien Buemi (Trust Team Arden) finished 7th, but was excluded – car not conformed
Team Championship

Team/ points

1.ART Grand Prix 12
2.iSport International11
3.Qi-Meritus Mahara7
4.DPR6
5.FMS5
6.Super Nova Racing1
7.Durango --
8.BCN Competicion--
9.Dams--
10.Barwa International Campos Team--
11.Trident Racing--
12.Piquet Sports--
13.Trust Team Arden--

__________________