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Sato triumphs in race one

by Jonathan Wallcroft

Photo: Auto GP

Japanese Driver Kimiya Sato continued his 100% podium-scoring record with a triumph in race one from 3rd on the grid after pole-sitter and the weekends pace-setter Vittorio Ghirelli was delayed at the mandatory pit-stop. The result means Sato extends his lead in the championship to 14 points over Sergio Campana.

Sato actually took the lead from the lights-out after a blistering start but Ghirelli, who had been unbeatable so far this weekend, quickly regained his composure to retake the lead before his pit stop woes.

Behind the leading two, Campana followed behind in third, having leapfrogged Riccardo Agostini at the start, debutant Tamas Pal Kiss fell back from the lead pair early on to trundle home in fifth, followed by the Dutch Manor MP duo Meindert van Buuren and Daniel de Jong. Reverse grid pole was taken by Narain Karthikeyan who had been having an very slow weekend up until then.

Virtuosi UK duo Andrea Roda and Max Snegirev rounded out the points with all cars being classified but Luciano Bacheta and Robert Visoiu who took each other out with two laps remaining

Race results
Pos Driver Team Time/Gap
1 Kimiya Sato Euronova 19 laps in 30:55.139
2 Vittorio Ghirelli Super Nova +0.356
3 Sergio Campana Ibiza +1.787
4 Riccardo Agostini Manor MP +5.649
5 Tamas Pal Kiss MLR 71 +6.740
6 Meindert Van Buuren Manor MP +14.290
7 Daniel De Jong Manor MP +28.387
8 Narain Karthikeyan Zele +32.670
9 Andrea Roda Virtuosi UK +33.233
10 Max Snegirev Virtuosi UK +39.842
11 Francesco Dracone Super Nova +50.337
12 Yoshitaka Kuroda Euronova +51.568
13 Giuseppe Cipriani Ibiza +59.066
14 Michele La Rosa MLR 71 +1:02.587
15 Robert Visoiu Ghinzani +2 laps
16 Luciano Bacheta Zele +2 laps