Sparco drivers have had a mainly positive weekend as Formula One and GP2 Series returned to action at the classic Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium this weekend. 

In Formula One, the McLaren Mercedes team enjoyed a strong two car finish in the points as Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button were involved in a competitive battle in the closing stages of the 44-lap race.

Both drivers wore Sparco’s EXTREMA RS-10 overalls and finished in sixth and seventh respectively. A post-race penalty demoted Magnussen to 12^th and promoted his team-mate into sixth place.

GP2 offered up another exciting spectacle over the course of the weekend. The feature race on Saturday was held in typically mixed conditions, putting tyre strategy at the heart of the race.  Sparco-wearing Stoffel Vandoorne took pole position but it was Racing Engineering’s Raffaele Marciello who claimed his first win.

In Sunday’s feature race, dry conditions with some damp patches greeted drivers and it was Jolyon Palmer who flew the Sparco flag with another solid podium result.

It was Marciello who picked up most jury votes for the GP2 Award in Spa, thanks to his performance on Saturday. He added another five votes to his season total, as the Sparco GP2 Award comes to its conclusion.

All the votes have now been added up for the season with the award being presented on 4 September - during the Italian Grand Prix weekend in Monza, Sparco’s home race. A special jury of motor racing journalists have voted for their GP2 Series stars at all events since Monaco and the podium has been confirmed with two Sparco drivers in the mix.

Third place is awarded to Stefano Coletti, who has totalled seven votes in total. His performance in Hockenheim made him top driver in the German Grand Prix. Marciello’s votes this weekend see him take second place overall but the winning driver with 15 votes is Sparco wearer Jolyon Palmer. The Brit won the first nominations in Monaco and has been consistently among the favourites all season. Sparco will present Palmer with the inaugural Sparco GP2 Series Award in a special ceremony in Monza.

Sparco’s Motorsport Manager Daniela Vignale commented: “Spa-Francorchamps is a very special track and it often delivers exciting battles. We have seen this in both GP2 races and in Formula One this afternoon. Congratulations to McLaren-Mercedes for scoring more championship points, with both drivers wearing our EXTREMA RS-10. GP2 Series has been a special weekend because we see the end of the nominations for the debut Sparco GP2 Award. Since Monaco, we have been totalling the votes and we are pleased to announce current series leader Jolyon Palmer as the winner with 15 votes in total. The result is even more special as Jolyon wears Sparco. We are looking forward to the official presentation in Monza, during our home Grand Prix, and we also hope to see more spectacular racing in the Italian Grand Prix.”