GP2-C1: Evans emerges as winner

Rain, track exits, a red flag... The first round of the GP2 Series on the track Red Bull Ring had no shortage of twists and turns this Saturday afternoon. From the start, the positions evolved quickly since an average flight from Sergey Sirotkin (ART Grand Prix) allowed Antonio Giovinazzi then Pierre Gasly (Prema Racing) to take control of the race.

The Frenchman, who was racing somewhat at home as a representative of Red Bull, immediately took the lead of the race and led the proceedings before the rain redistributed the cards. When braking for turn 3, the former DAMS driver was trapped and ended his race in the gravel trap, offering leadership to his Italian teammate.

The safety car came into action just long enough to evacuate the car de Gasly finally left Giovinazzi in the lead ahead of Raffaele Marciello (Russian Time) before the latter took advantage of an error by the Prema driver at turn 1 to take control of the race. Giovinazzi finally regains his property a few moments later.

The event will be neutralized again under safety car regime after Kirchhöfer's spin at turn 2, then interrupted by a red flag after contact with the wall by Artem Markelov (Russian Time), on the exit pit lane.

An interruption which will cause the loss of Giovinazzi, a single-seater stuck at the exit of the pit lane, thus allowing Mitch Evans to inherit first place and take a Campos Racing double to the checkered flag in front of Sean Gelael. Marciello finished third ahead of Luca Ghiotto (Trident) and Jimmy Eriksson (Arden).

Norman Nato (Racing Engineering) finished in seventh place ahead of Sergey Sirotkin (ART Grand Prix) who will have another opportunity to shine tomorrow by starting from pole position in the sprint race. Arthur Pic (Rapax) takes 11th place.

The sprint race will start tomorrow morning at 10:25 a.m.

Main race results