Team NZ win Czech A1GP
2007-10-15 11:38
Brno - New Zealand's Jonny Reid has taken his second victory of the day in Sunday afternoon's thrilling A1GP feature race at Brno in the Czech Republic, moving the team into the championship lead by one point.
Reid crossed the line in first place from seventh on the grid, ahead of the Netherlands' Jeroen Bleekemolen and Switzerland's Neel Jani in second and third position respectively.
Another gripping start greeted the crowds at a chilly but sunny Brno as pole-sitter Bleekemolen, Adrian Zaugg (South Africa) and Robbie Kerr (Great Britain) went three abreast into the first corner, the Dutchman making it stick to hold the lead ahead of Zaugg, Kerr and China's Congfu Cheng.
Reid moved up a place at the start and was all over the back of fifth-placed Jani in the Swiss car while further down the pack Ireland's Adam Carroll had made an incredible start from 18th on the grid, gaining six places to 12th by the end of lap one.
By lap five Bleekemolen had edged out a 3.5 second lead over Zaugg, who was holding up the pack as the Dutch car started to get away.
As the first mandatory pit stop window opened on lap eight, race leader Bleekemolen was the first man in for a fresh set of tyres, closely followed by Zaugg, Kerr and Reid.
Reid's team did an awesome job in the pits, getting their car out on track ahead of Zaugg and Kerr, who had been battling for second place.
As the pit stop window closed on lap 15 the top six settled, but two laps later Kerr was forced to pit with a puncture, moving Cheng up into fourth place as Kerr rejoined in 20th.
Second-placed Reid was in blistering form, closing in on Bleekemolen to within half a second by lap 25 when the Dutch driver pitted for his second obligatory stop.
With eight laps to go the Kiwi had pulled out a 32-second lead when he came in for his second stop on lap 30. Having rejoined in the top spot after fast work in the pits, Reid stretched his advantage over Bleekemolen and Jani to over six seconds by the start of the final lap.
Reid went on to stamp his authority on the weekend by taking another commanding victory, followed home by Bleekemolen and Jani in second and third place with Cheng hot on his heels in fourth.
Fifth position was taken by Nicolas Lapierre (France) as Adam Carroll (Ireland) crossed the line in an incredible sixth place, having started back in 18th.
Sergio Jimenez (Brazil) finished seventh while the final three points-scoring positions were taken by Christian Vietoris (Germany), Narain Karthikeyan (India) and Enrico Toccacelo (Italy).
Local hero Erik Janis finished a solid 12th in his home race, having started 17th. GBR's Kerr had a disappointing race after being forced to pit three times, eventually crossing the line in 17th behind Zaugg.
Reid was delighted with his team's performance and can't wait for round three at Sepang in Malaysia.
"We're very pleased as a team. I couldn't have asked more from the boys in the pits. The car was well balanced and I was just happy to push 110% all the time and average a very quick time and that brought us up behind Netherlands and again the pit stops again were great and I was able to pull a margin with some clear air at one point in the race so I'm really pleased. The car was good, I knew that and I was able to push. I was held up by the Netherlands and once I got some clear air I was able to put some good laps together and get a margin and it was big enough to jump them in the pits. The car was good everywhere and I was able to push 110%. I had no problems with the car and was able to be very quick. I can't wait for Malaysia. The car's good, I'm feeling good. The warmer climates don't bother me at all so I'm looking forward to getting out there and getting into things."
New Zealand now leads the title challenge on 37 points, just ahead of South Africa on 36 and Great Britain on 31 as the series has a short break before heading to Sepang, Malaysia on November 23-25, 2007.