1st RACE HUNGARY. 02.08.08
BARWA INTERNATIONAL CAMPOS TEAM GOES TO THE TOP OF THE PODIUM
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At the Hungaroring circuit in Budapest this afternoon, the driver of the Barwa International Campos Team, Lucas Di Grassi drove his way to a superb victory after having finished three times in second place since he signed up for the Spanish GP2 team in mid-season.
The drivers of the Spanish team starting from third and fourth places on the grid, made a flying start and at the first corner they 
both powered ahead with Di Grassi leading the race and Petrov in second place. As the race developed Lucas was involved in a tight battle for the lead with A. Zuber that would go on until the end. The Brazilian driver kept his rival at bay with some brilliant driving and hardly gave him any options. The team also made a perfect tyre change.
His team-mate Petrov didn´t have so much luck and was forced to retire on Lap 23 due to gearbox damage. It was unfortunate because he was looking more than solid in third place and was even making up ground on the two leaders. The Russian driver, and not the first time this season, was demonstrating his class and seemed to be on his way to a podium place.
Lucas Di Grassi, has at last achieved a well earned victory after having finished second three times in just a few races. The Brazilian driver is now third overall in the driver´s championship having competed in only seven races whereas his rivals have raced in thirteen events. Since his late arrival in this season´s competition Lucas has achieved almost the same number of points over these races as the runaway leader, 38 compared to the 39 of Pantano. Vitaly Petrov keeps his overall top ten position in the championship.
In the race for the team title the Barwa International Campos Team are still in third place but have reduced the difference by 10 points with the second placed team. The competition from now till the end of the season should be exciting.
Lucas Di Grassi: "I think we have had a good race because I have led from the first corner to the finish without having made any mistakes. The car went very well.
I must thank the team for their good work and the pit stop they did. We are going to keep working very hard and try to continue in this way of doing things so that we can have a good weekend in Valencia, because it will be an important race, not just because it is the first Valencia Street Circuit GP, but also because the team are racing at home".
Alejandro Agag: "I´m very happy with this result and I have to congratulate and thank both drivers, Lucas and Vitaly, my partner and Team Principal, Adrián Campos and the whole team for the victory, but most of all for the magnificent work carried out.
It´s a shame about Vitaly Petrov and the third place he missed out on when he was going so well. Obviously this is a great step forward in consolidating our project as leaders in Spanish Formula racing. We would like to give Spanish racing another lift and particularly in the Valencian Community with the next race at the Valencia Street Circuit".
Tomorrow morning at 10.00 the Spanish TV channel, La Sexta will broadcast highlights of today´s race and then will show the second race live from the start at 10.30, which will be over 28 laps (123 kms).
- Antonio Moralejo - also photos
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