Podium for Racing Engineering's Borja Garcia!
Racing Engineering has obtained its second podium this
season in one of the most thrilling and exciting races in this
championship so far. A great race of the young Borja Garcia
found its reward in an excellent 3rd position.
Borja Garcia, the 2004 Spanish Formula 3 Champion, has definitely
proven his talent during today's GP2 race at the Istanbul Park circuit.
Borja's first podium this year was based on racing abilities, strength
and strong will. With only two laps remaining in the race Borja did the
almost impossible: courageously overtake the fast and always
unpredictable Piquet on the outside of a corner in an all or nothing
charge to the podium. It was an overtaking maneuver worthy of
Borja's hunger for glory, but at the same ttime was full of maturity and
coolness. Borja didn't want to settle for 4 h position; he wanted to see
his name in the top three, a place where he belongs. In Sunday's
sprint race Borja will start from 6th position and, given today's
performance, Borja is definitely a driver to watch out for.
Neel Jani's race, however, ended suddenly in the last corner of the
first lap. The Swiss driver suffered a severe accident at the pit lane
entry, damaging his car. Neel was unable to steer his GP2 car and
keep it on track shortly before the impact; it is most likely that another
driver hit him from behind.
After obtaining his first podium in the GP2 Series a happy Borja
Garcia stated, "Everything went really well during the first laps. I had
a good start, overtaking Bruni. When the safety car came out on lap
2 my team called me into the pits immediately. From that moment on
the only little inconvenience was Mathias Lauda, who was ahead of
me and slower than me. When I tried overtaking him, I went off the
track a bit and, instead of gaining a position, I lost two. However, in
the end I passed him and from that moment on I went faster and
faster. I overtook Alvarez and, with three laps remaining, I ran in 4th
position. I saw a possibility to overtake Piquet on the outside of a
corner and moved further up into 3rd position. I am really happy for
me and my team, as they have all made a great job and worked hard
to make this possible".
After his severe accident Neel Jani commented, "Not much to say
today. At the end of lap 1 I just went straight as I couldn't steer
anymore. I don't know, if someone has hit me from behind; it was
really strange. I hit the barrier at the entry of the pitlane and my race
was over".
At the end of the day Alfonso de Orleans-Borbon announced,
"Absolutely fantastic job by Borja! Both team strategy and Borja's
abilities allowed this fantastic podium by such a talented driver. I
thank the whole team for the wonderful work done and hope we can
repeat this good result tomorrow".
-race engineering-
