Lucas Di Grassi secured the first podium of the season for the Fat Burner Racing Engineering Team in today’s feature race at Monaco after crossing the line in third place. His team-mate, Dani Clos, on the other hand, was a victim of his lack of experience in his first race outing on the tricky track of Monaco and as such was not able to finish the race.
Lucas started the race from fifth on the grid and was able to keep his position during the hectic moments when 25 cars tried to find their way through the St. Devote corner approaching the Casino. The Fat Burner Racing Engineering driver, behind Zuber and Hulkenberg, kept his cool and was clocking consistent lap times, never letting the Austrian and the German drivers getting more than a second away.
With overtaking being almost impossible in Monaco, Lucas saw his chance coming in lap 19, when both, Zuber and Hulkenberg, entered the pits for their tyre changes. The Brazilian immediately increased his rhythm and was able to set very good lap times until he went into the pits 4 laps later. This, together with a very fast tyre change on his Fat Burner Racing Engineering car, allowed Lucas to rejoin the race ahead of Zuber and Hulkenberg in 3rd position; and without any real danger from those two drivers, Lucas finished the race with his first podium of the season.
Dani Clos, like in Barcelona’s Saturday race, had a very good start and gained several positions, moving from 13th to 9th. He was driving a good race, fighting against experienced drivers like Kobayashi and Villa behind him, and not losing touch with Parente and Filippi ahead of him. The Spanish rookie entered the pits for his obligatory pit stop on lap 14 and set the fastest time in sector 2 during his out-lap. However, after crossing the start finish line, Dani faced the fate many other drivers suffered from in Monaco before: he broke late and went straight in the St. Devote corner. This accident meant a sudden end to Dani’s race, which saw him on his way to score his first GP2 points.
Lucas Di Grassi: The team did a really good job. The car was fast and together with a good strategy and good lap times we were able to get from 5th to 3rd. I am sure this will be the first of many podiums this season, but now we will continue working and improving our car. I am very happy with today’s work.
Dani Clos: At the start I was able to gain several positions and the car was going really well. During the first part of the race I was faster than the cars in front of me, but there was no way to pass them. After the pit stop I was trying to push and even set the fastest overall time in sector 2, but shortly after I came onto the dirty side of the track and went straight in St. Devote.
Alfonso de Orleáns-Borbón, team’s Principal: Fantastic job from the boys and amazing tyre changes on both cars. I have never seen Lucas drive so well! But under these circumstances he could not have done better than 3rd. Pity about Dani as it was a typical novice accident at St. Devote. Congratulations to the team for the good work. Now let’s prepare for tomorrow.
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