Silverstone: Race one report

Rosberg makes it two in two

ART Grand Prix's Nico Rosberg won today's GP2 series race at Silverstone from Heikki Kovalainen and Alex Prémat. In a day of firsts, Nico became the first GP2 series driver to win back- to-back races, and also the first to win a GP2 series race from pole. With Nico's team-mate Alex taking fastest lap en route to his podium, their team is also the first to score pole position, race win and fastest lap in the same race.

Nelson Piquet Jr failed to make it to the grid (electrics), so Nico had the front row to himself. Heikki had lined himself up to make a move on the inside of Copse but when the lights went out, he, Nico and fourth-placed Adam Carroll goth away seamlessly and held what were now the top three places. Prémat was on a mission from 14t on the grid and, having pitted early, was dicing around slower cars which were yet to come in. When the pitstops panned out Rosberg led Kovalainen by two seconds, with Prémat a surprised third, Carroll fourth and Scott Speed fifth for iSport International.

Scott was the quicker of the two, but could not find a way past. That was until Adam ran a touch wide at Stowe. His car snapped wildly, pitching it into a flying spin. Adam controlled it beautifully, and carried on. Unfortunately, a puncture picked up in his off-track excursion forced him out of the race with no points. Scott came home fourth, with Neel Jani fifth, Clivio Piccione sixth, Gimmi Bruni seventh and Olivier Pla eighth. The Frenchman will therefore start from pole position tomorrow.

The result leaves Heikki at the top of the standings on 60 points. Nico's pole and win combo has pulled him up to second in the championship on 41. Adam remains on 34 points and is third, equal on points with Scott. Gimmi Bruni sits in fifth on 33, followed by Jose Maria Lopez, Neel Jani and Alex Prémat. Arden International maintain their lead of the teams' championship on 72, but are now just nine points clear of ART Grand Prix on 63. Super Nova International are third on 44, with Coloni Motorsport tied with iSport International on 36.

1st Nico Rosberg- ART Grand Prix.58:26.737
"It was a great race, and when you're in front the race just doesn't want to end anymore, so I was really happy to get there! Tomorrow I'm starting eighth, so it's not going to be easy."

2nd Heikki Kovalainen Arden International. +0.564
"I was on the limit today. I could have been all over the place and losing places. I really tried to push Nico and follow him, but he just pulled away. We were not quick enough today."

3rd Alexandre Prémat ART Grand Prix. +26.301
"The car was really perfect in the race. We will work hard tonight to make an even better car, and I think that, starting from sixth tomorrow, it will be possible to finish on the podium again."

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