GP2-C1: Vandoorne ahead of Pic at Spa

For the fifth time this season, the Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne (ART Grand Prix) won in a main race in the GP2 Series. This Saturday's victory, however, has a particular flavor for the protégé of McLaren, since landed on his land at Spa-Francorchamps.

Starting from pole, Vandoorne made an average move which saw the Russian Sergey Sirotkin (Rapax) pass him when the lights went out, but the Belgian regained his position at the first corner, Sirotkin veering too wide at the Source. Behind, Oliver Rowland (MP Motorsport), Formula leader Renault 3.5, lost all hope of a good result after contact with Nobuharu Matsushita (ART Grand Prix) which left the Briton with a right rear puncture and a car damaged.

The highlight of the race, however, will remain the violent exit from the track of Daniel de Jong (MP Motorsport) at the Blanchimont bend. In the middle of a fight with the French Pierre Gasly (DAMS), contact between the two cars will send Jong's car into the tire wall at very high speed.

The marshals and medical cars will quickly take charge of the Dutch driver, to help him get out of his car. GP2 Series officials announced that de Jong was taken conscious to hospital for examination. More information will be given later.

First placed under safety car regime, then interrupted by a red flag on the ninth lap, the race will resume after several minutes. Vandoorne, who had made his stop under a safety car, waited patiently for his rivals to come in to gradually return to the lead of the race. The Belgian leads the Frenchman Arthur Pic (Campos Racing) at the finish and Artem Markelov (Russian Time).

Nathanaël Berthon (Team Lazarus) finished 7th ahead of Jordan King (Racing Engineering) who will start tomorrow in pole position in the sprint race. Pierre Gasly finished 14th, while Norman Nato (Arden) was forced to retire after contact with Gasly at the start of the race.

The sprint race will take place tomorrow at 10:35 a.m.