[06-04-2014] [Translation Soon]
F1 SHINES UNDER THE SPOTLIGHTS IN BAHRAIN WHILE SPARCO DOMINATES GP2 PODIUMS
 Sparco has had a bumper weekend in the Middle East as Formula One and GP2 Series took to the Bahrain International Circuit during an action packed weekend of racing.
Sparco’s impressive range of race wear, which included the top of the range EXTREMA RS-10 suit, was put to the test in the desert conditions of Sakhir as F1 took part in its first ever night race in Bahrain and GP2 drivers got their 2014 season underway in style.
In Formula One, Max Chilton was the top driver wearing Sparco in a thrilling 57 lap race which saw the deployment of a safety car and epic battles up and down the field. The British Marussia F1 driver finished in 13th place ahead of Sparco-supported Caterham F1 driver Kamui Kobayashi in 15th. Unfortunately, it was a tough race for McLaren Mercedes drivers Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen after they both retired from the Grand Prix.
Claudio Pastoris, Sparco CEO commented: “What a sensational race for Formula One. It was full of excitement from start to finish and a great advert for the current era of the sport. Unfortunately, it was a tough race for Sparco’s drivers with neither McLaren Mercedes making the chequered flag. Sparco would like to extend its congratulations to Jenson Button on the occasion of his 250th Grand Prix. Well done also to Max Chilton for continuing his run of race finishes and for being the top Sparco driver today and to Caterham F1.”
Meanwhile, Sparco drivers dominated proceedings in the GP2 Series this weekend. The opening race weekend of the 2014 GP2 season saw the usual two race format with a 32 lap first race held on Saturday and a shorter 23 lap sprint race just before the Formula One event got underway.
Friday’s qualifying session was held under the intense spotlight of the Bahrain International Circuit’s new lighting system for GP2’s first ever night-time session at the Sakhir track. Briton Jolyon Palmer took pole from McLaren’s junior driver Stoffel Vandoorne by a tight margin of just 0.03s.
In the opening race of the new season, it was ART driver Vandoorne who came out on top leading a Sparco 1-2-3 ahead of Carlin’s Julian Leal and DAMS driver Palmer who had to settle for third place.
Victory honours went to Palmer in Sunday’s sprint race as he stormed to the head of the GP2 classification overall. He beat fellow Sparco-wearer Trummer by 0.8s over 23 laps with Leal adding a second podium finish in third and ensuring a clean sweep for Sparco in GP2 around the Bahrain International Circuit this weekend.
Aldino Bellazzini, Sparco Chairman said: “What a fantastic way to begin this new series of GP2 with an all-Sparco podium in both races. We are proud to support the rising starts of motorsport and we would like to congratulate Jolyon Palmer and Stoffel Vandoorne for their respective race wins. Bahrain has provided an exceptional level of racing in both GP2 and Formula One this weekend and it has been a real treat to watch both as a race fan and as a technical partner for so many of the teams and drivers.”
While Formula One now heads to China for the fourth round of the 2014 championship, GP2 Series will reconvene with F1 during the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona in May. |
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