Hockenheimring: Edoardo Mortara race two report

DOUBLE-PODIUM FOR CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER MORTARA

HOCKENHEIM (GER) 25 APRIL 2010: Formula 3 Euro Series driver Edoardo Mortara took his second podium of the weekend today at the Hockenheimring, finishing in third place. The Italian now leads the championship by one point over Signature team mate Marco Whittmann who won Race 1 yesterday.

Having finished second in the feature race, Edo started seventh on Race 2's reverse grid. He briefly stalled at the start, which lost him two positions, but the 23 year-old hauled it back with two brilliant first corners. By lap two, he was up to P5. By lap eight, P4. On lap nine, Antonio Felix-da-Costa was given a drive thru and Edo, who was all over the back of the Portuguese driver's car, was promoted to third. He sustained mid-race pressure from Whittmann before finding more speed, pulling away, and tasting podium Sekt for the second consecutive day.

Race position: 3 / Grid position: 7 / Sunny and dry, 21.7o. ambient and 26.6o. track temperature / Drivers' championship standing: 1st, 27 points

EDOARDO MORTARA: "It's strange because I'm always on the podium at Hockenheim but never winning. Race 2 was a lot more difficult for me that Race 1. In Race 1 we started with new tyres while the others were running half-half, so we could pull away quite easily. Today I had to fight the car from lap three until the end. It was sliding everywhere - there was no grip at the rear. I managed to keep my team mate behind but honestly it was really difficult. The middle part of the 25 lap race was not quick for me but the track improved and I was then able to close the gap to the top two cars and create more room between Marco and I.

"Also I stalled at the start so that didn't help, but I made two super corners and got those positions back. To start seventh on the grid and have that problem to then come through and take third is a good result, and it's nice to be back on my own at the top of the leader table."

OLIVIER BACCHIS (RACE ENGINEER - SIGNATURE TEAM): "Today's result exceeded our expectations given the reverse grid and, even more so, because of Edo's bad start. But he did a really great first lap and overtook a lot of drivers. The track changed a lot compared to yesterday and every driver had to fight oversteer. Between Marco and Edo it was the opposite situation to yesterday. Today Marco was putting Edo under pressure. But he defended very well and we can be happy with these points."

-source: edoardo mortara PR