FIA F2

Bahrain: Race two report

The drive of a champion Nico Rosberg has taken an unprecedented full sweep in Bahrain. Starting from eighth place after winning Race 1 yesterday afternoon, the GP2 series champion today became the first driver to win both races in a weekend. He ...

Edited: Oct 1, 2005, 3:12 AM

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The drive of a champion

Nico Rosberg has taken an unprecedented full sweep in Bahrain. Starting from eighth place after winning Race 1 yesterday afternoon, the GP2 series champion today became the first driver to win both races in a weekend. He led home BCN Competicion's Ernesto Viso, and his ART Grand Prix team-mate Alex Premat. Alex had been gunning for third in the championship, but Scott Speed set the fastest lap of the race leaving the American just half a point ahead of the Frenchman in the final standings.

Race Report. As the lights went out, Ernesto led away from pole position and held first place into Turn 1. Heikki Kovalainen spun out of the race on the exit of Turn 1, as Giorgio Pantano leapt up into second. Hiroki Yoshimoto found himself in third, with Nicolas Lapierre fourth, Jose Maria Lopez fifth, Alex sixth and Nico seventh. The ART Grand Prix boys dispatched Lopez after a lap, with Nico passing Alex along the way.

Next on Nico's radar was Nicolas, and the Arden driver put up a staunch defense. It came to nothing though, as Nico powered past Nicolas on the back straight. Yoshi's BCN was next to go and Nico was on the podium with five minutes of the race gone. He soon caught up to Giorgio and harried the Super Nova International driver corner after corner. The Italian went the same way as Yoshi, and then only Ernesto remained. Nico reeled him in at a speed of one second a lap. The Venezuelan held onto his lead for as long as he could, displaying fine and fair racecraft. But Nico was just too quick, and flew past under braking for Turn 1. The race was his.

Further back Alex was making similar progress, but as the laps wore down he just couldn't find a way past the determined Ernesto. He had the position he needed to overtake Scott's 2.5 point lead in the championship. The American, however, set the fastest lap of the race and held onto his championship position, and Alex was left to reflect on a bitter-sweet race. Jose Maria came home fourth, Giorgio fifth and Yoshi picked up the final point of the 2005 GP2 series.

> What about the championship? Nico is the 2005 GP2 series champion, finishing the year on 120 points, 15 ahead of Heikki. Scott claims third on 67.5, half a point ahead of Alex. Adam Carroll finishes the year in fifth on 53, with his team-mate Giorgio sixth on 49, Neel Jani seventh on 48, Nelson Piquet Jr eighth on 46, Jose ninth on 36 and Gimmi Bruni tenth on 35. In the teams' championship ART Grand Prix finish the year on 187 points, with Arden International second 126. Super Nova International take third spot with 102 points.

1st Nico Rosberg ART Grand Prix.41:44.937
"This is just a great way to finish off this weekend and this season. I can't quite believe it. The car was perfect this afternoon, as it has been all season. I really enjoyed myself out there today, and this is my way of saying thank you to my team for an amazing season. I'm really thrilled."

2nd Ernesto Viso BCN Competicion. +8.335
"It was a difficult race, but it's great to get another podium my third in four races. I think people can see the potential we've had this year, and its nice to have a good result at the end of the championship. Nico was great today. He was really fast. I just couldn't keep him behind me."

3rd Alex Premat ART Grand Prix. +9.353
"This season has been fantastic, and I have really enjoyed working with the team and with Nico. But today is bitter-sweet. I really wanted to get third place in the championship and I lost it by half a point. That's difficult to take. But overall I look back on a great season."

-gp2-

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