Esteban Gutierrez wins shortened GP2 Feature Race

Esteban Gutierrez has won a shortened GP2 feature race around a wet and slippery Silverstone, ahead of Johnny Cecotto jr. and local star Jolyon Palmer. The race initially started under the safety car, however after 7 laps the race was eventually green flagged as the drivers negotiated the tricky conditions.

After the lengthy delay in the Formula 1 qualifying, the GP2 feature race started later than scheduled and behind the safety car, with the Silverstone circuit still treacherously wet after the inclement weather of the previous few hours. However, even starting under the safety car failed to deter the drivers from coming together, as Daniël de Jong slammed into the rear of Rodolfo Gonzalez along the Old Pit Straight.

As de Jong retired from the race, it was announced that the safety car would come in towards the end of the next lap. Once the field finally took to green flag conditions, spray became the next big issue for the drivers a visibility was exceedingly poor. Several drivers including Championship leader Davide Valsecchi pitted for fresher wet tyres.

Stefano Coletti came to a momentary halt out on track around turn 4, as the Italian’s car suddenly slowed to a walking pace. The Italian driver skipped through the water-logged grass only moments before, most likely contributing to the loss of pace. However, the Scuderia Coloni driver managed to pick up the pace and return to racing speeds.

As the race continued, some drivers began opting to pit for fresher rubber, including local favorites James Calado and Jolyon Palmer. However, Calado stopped just after turn 1 only moments after his pit stop, with the Briton most likely suffering from a loose wheel. This brought out the safety car once again, with the rest of the field opting to make their pit-stops shortly after. Amazingly, race leader Fabio Leimer didn’t pit, a move which the Swiss driver would greatly regret later on in the race.

Marcus Ericsson and Stefano Coletti unbelievably switched to slick tyres during their stops, which subsequently lead to a further safety car period once the race was momentarily resumed for only one lap. Coletti lost control of his car at turn 14, with the majority of the track still wet after the previous rainfall.

As the safety car yet again returned to the track, Fabio Leimer made his inevitable stop thus handing down the lead to Esteban Gutierrez. This final safety car period lasted only one lap, before the race returned to green flag conditions once again. Due to the many delays, the race had become a timed event, and when the time ran out it was Mexican driver Esteban Gutierrez who crossed the line to take his second feature race victory in succession, ahead of Cecotto jr. and Palmer.

Tomorrow’s sprint race could once again be run in similar conditions to today, as Dutchman Giedo van der Garde lines up in the reverse grid pole for Caterham. Luiz Razia took the sprint race victory last time out in Valencia, in a thrilling final few laps.

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