The ART Grand Prix GP2 team had their best race of the season to date at the Silverstone circuit this weekend with a podium finish to their name courtesy of Jules Bianchi, who after securing a brilliant pole position, his second of the season, crossed the line in second place at the end of race one.
The Frenchman then picked up even more points in race two by crossing the line in fifth place. Meanwhile, teammate Sam Bird scored strong points in race one when he finished fourth, just one step off the podium in his home race, but unfortunately he suffered a mechanical issue on the installation lap for race two and failed to make the start.
Jules Bianchi: “Qualifying has been really tough and I was genuinely delighted to secure my second pole position of the season. We had to fine-tune the car between the two sets of tyres, there was a bit of traffic and some guys out there were bloody fast, such as my teammate Sam. My lap was not perfect but we all make mistakes here and there, or were caught in traffic. I wanted to have a better start than the last time I was on pole in Barcelona and I think I did but Maldonado just had a fantastic one. We had the same pit strategy and there was no way I could hope to get past him thanks to another pit stop window. I tried to go for the fastest lap but Pastor beat me there too. I had a good second race with some nice overtaking and good points in the end. I gained some positions in the drivers’ classification but above all I can feel we improved a lot since a few weeks and I look forward to Hockenheim.”
Sam Bird: “It is quite a shame that I could not get a podium at my home race but I had some very good fights and I was so close to the top 3. Obviously I had great aims for the second race but unfortunately the mechanic decided another issue in the warm up lap. To take the next step, I just need a weekend where we don’t have any problems, where I don’t have good points in the first race and a gremlin in the second for instance.”
Frederic Vasseur: “All in all it is an excellent weekend as we can see with our tally: 17 points is our best of the season so far and it was the best of all teams in Silverstone. It is down to the outstanding performances of each and every member of ART Grand Prix. Jules got his second pole position from five qualifying sessions. Both results allow him to gain three positions in the championship and his driving is getting better and better, with a mastering management of the events and some great overtaking manoeuvres. Sam was extremely fast too and he also handled the weekend perfectly but we have to apologize to him for the mechanical failure of the second race. Without it I think he would have been a serious contender for the win. But he is mentally strong and a great driver and I am confident we will see him with the front runners in Hockenheim.”