GP2 Series leader Jolyon Palmer added another podium result to his 2014 results with some impressive driving around the Hungaroring this weekend. The Brit was named as winner of the Hungarian round of the Sparco GP2 Award with just one more race weekend left for drivers to pick up votes for the inaugural accolade.

 

Sparco had a prominent presence on the Hungarian podium in both GP2 races with Stefano Coletti (Racing Engineering) and Adrian Quaife-Hobbs (Rapax) finishing second and third respectively in Saturday’s feature race. Strategies were thrown out of the window as a Safety Car period turned the race on its head. 

 

A post-race penalty altered the outcome of the race with Coletti handed a 20 second time penalty which demoted him towards the back of the classified finishers. Quaife-Hobbs was promoted into second spot with ART’s Takuya Izawa, wearing Sparco’s Superleggera overalls, taking the final podium position.  

 

Sunday morning’s sprint race was won by Sparco-wearing Stoffel Vandoorne with Palmer in a strong second, making some great overtaking manoeuvres around the tight and twisty Hungaroring track to extend his grasp on the championship.  

 

It was a chaotic and eventful Formula One race as wet conditions early on made driving conditions tricky and tyre calls crucial. McLaren Mercedes driver Jenson Button, wearing Sparco’s EXTREMA RS-10 overalls, took home a solitary championship point in tenth place, two ahead of rookie Kevin Magnussen. Of the other Sparco teams, Marussia F1 saw both the team’s cars finish the incident filled event while neither of the Caterham F1 Team drivers was able to see the chequered flag. 

 

Formula One and GP2 Series will return after a short summer break with the Belgian Grand Prix at the end of August. 

 

Sparco’s Motorsport Manager Daniela Vignale said: “Congratulations to Jolyon Palmer for picking up the votes for the Sparco GP2 Award at Hungary this weekend, for continuing his podium success and extending his hold on the 2014 title. It wasn’t an easy weekend but he came out of the challenge very well. Well done also to Stoffel Vandoorne for taking a win in Sparco overalls in this morning’s sprint race – an excellent drive and a very worthy win! Also, special mention to Adrian Quaife-Hobbs and Takuya Izawa for fine podium results in yesterday’s feature race. Formula One provided plenty of spectacle with many incidents with Jenson Button finishing as top Sparco wearer in tenth. F1 and GP2 are heading into a very well deserved summer break but we are able to reflect on a positive first half of the season for Sparco. We thank our partner teams and drivers for their support and wish them a restful few weeks before the Belgian Grand Prix.”