Luiz Razia takes dominating win in GP2 Sprint Race

The Arden driver takes his fourth race victory of 2012

Luiz Razia has taken a dominating victory in the GP2 sprint race, ahead his Championship rival Davide Valsecchi in a highly entertaining race around the Silverstone circuit. Felipe Nasr managed to cling on to 3rd, whilst behind him carnage ensued on the closing laps.

The race started under dry conditions, as pole man Giedo van der Garde led away at the front. Luiz Razia quickly began his charge to the front, overtaking Davide Valsecchi for 3rd on the opening lap. Towards the end of the first lap, Razia had also overtaken the second DAMS car of Felipe Nasr, whilst further back Stefano Coletti and Stephane Richelmi made contact at turn 16 and subsequently retired.

Giedo van der Garde’s lead at the front was quickly reduced to nothing, as the Brazilian of Luiz Razia passed the Dutchman for the lead. The Caterham driver then began to slip through the field, as Felipe Nasr and then Davide Valsecchi negotiated their way around him. Caterham’s day got considerably worse as the race progressed, as van der Garde’s team-mate Rodolfo Gonzalez retired.

On lap 7, Series rookie Felipe Nasr made a desperate attempt to take the lead from Razia, and passed the Brazilian for the lead at turn 3. However, the DAMS driver then ran wide, thus allowing fellow countryman Luiz Razia back through into the lead. A steady gap then began to open up between leader Razia and Felipe Nasr, until the Brazilian’s team-mate David Valsecchi began to set quick lap times and eventually caught and passed Nasr.

With the race running in relatively dry conditions, contrary to yesterday’s race which started under the safety car in horrendously wet conditions, the inevitable light rain began to fall around lap 19, as the drivers entered the closing stages of the sprint race. The gap between Valsecchi and Razia at the front ebbed and flowed, however Razia managed to keep control in the lead.

British drivers James Calado and Max Chilton came together at turn 11 on lap 20, which resulted in Calado spinning off the track and making light contact with the wall. Max Chilton also retired, with his car stopping precariously on the racing line at turn 12. These antics failed to deter Luiz Razia at the front, who stormed to his fourth race victory of the season.

As the rest of the field negotiated the final few corners, the usual melee of racing ensued as Esteban Gutierrez ran wide on the exit of turn 15, and made a disastrously dangerous reentry on to the track. In doing so, the Mexican driver made contact with Johnny Cecotto jr., who spun off into the barriers as they headed into turn 16.

Luiz Razia will now have increased his lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship, as the GP2 fraternity now focus on heading to the daunting Hockenheimring in Germany in two weeks time.

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