Stanaway storms to maiden GP2 win

2015 GP2 Series Round 3 - Monte Carlo, Monaco. Saturday 23May 2015. Richie Stanaway (NZL, Status Grand Prix), Raffaele Marciello (ITA, Trident) & Sergey Sirotkin (RUS, Rapax)  Photo: Sam Bloxham/GP2 Series Media Service. ref: Digital Image _SBL1103

2015 GP2 Series Round 3 – Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Saturday 23May 2015.
Richie Stanaway (NZL, Status Grand Prix), Raffaele Marciello (ITA, Trident) & Sergey Sirotkin (RUS, Rapax)
Photo: Sam Bloxham/GP2 Series Media Service.
ref: Digital Image _SBL1103

Status Grand Prix ace victorious in Monte Carlo Sprint Race
It’s a happy day for Richie Stanaway: the rookie has claimed his and his team’s maiden GP2 win controlling the race from start to finish with a display of maturity and calm driving. Behind him, Raffaele Marciello and rookie Sergey Sirotkin completed the podium.
The victory was set at the start when Stanaway had the perfect getaway whilst poleman Marciello was sluggish away from the line. The Kiwi made quick work to build a two second gap which was enough to keep the Italian at bay. Behind the pair, Sirotkin made a great start to move past Julian Leal and take third.
As the pack went down turn 6, Rio Haryanto was squeezed in between Rene Binder and a charging Norman Nato. The contact was unavoidable and sent the Indonesian into the barrier. There was more drama at turn 7 with a collision between Zoel Amberg and Johnny Cecotto, with both men retiring. After a brief Virtual Safety Car period, Stanaway focused on building a four second gap to Marciello, whilst the Italian was busy keeping his deficit to Sirotkin.
Behind them, Leal was under pressure from Sergio Canamasas who was clearly hungry for more than fifth place: just as he did yesterday to Arthur Pic, the Spaniard found his way past Leal at turn 1. After his bold move, he was unable however to close in on Sirotkin and had to settle for fourth.
There was a second Virtual Safety Car period in the closing stages when Jordan King tried to overtake Pierre Gasly at the exit of the tunnel, but went airbone after tagging the Frenchman’s car. But this did not mess with Stanaway’s concentration and the GP3 graduate punched the air in delight after taking the chequered flag two seconds ahead of Marciello. Sirotkin finished third and enjoyed his first rostrum in the Series. Canamasas, Leal, Pic, Alexander Rossi and Stoffel Vandoorne took the remaining points.
Thanks to his eighth place and the bonus points for fastest lap, Vandoorne has extended his lead in the drivers’ standings over Rossi, 114 points to 70. Haryanto remains on 49 points ahead of Evans on 28 – the Kiwi was unable to take part in the race following electrical issues. Alex Lynn is fifth on 25 points ahead of Marciello on 24 points.
Monte Carlo – Sprint Race
Driver
Team
1.
Richie Stanaway
Status Grand Prix
2.
Raffaele Marciello
Trident
3.
Sergey Sirotkin
Rapax
4.
Sergio Canamasas
MP Motorsport
5.
Julian Leal
Carlin
6.
Arthur Pic
Campos Racing
7.
Alexander Rossi
Racing Engineering
8.
Stoffel Vandoorne
ART Grand Prix
9.
Nick Yelloly
Hilmer Motorsport
10.
Pierre Gasly
DAMS
11.
Alex Lynn
DAMS
12.
Daniel de Jong
MP Motorsport
13.
Robert Visoiu
Rapax
14.
Artem Markelov
RUSSIAN TIME
15.
Nathanaël Berthon
Lazarus
16.
Rene Binder
Trident
17.
André Negrao
Arden International
18.
Marlon Stockinger
Status Grand Prix
19.
Nobuharu Matsushita
ART Grand Prix
20.
Marco Sorensen
Carlin
21.
Norman Nato
Arden International
Not Classified
Jordan King
Racing Engineering
Rio Haryanto
Campos Racing
Johnny Cecotto
Hilmer Motorsport
Zoel Amberg
Lazarus
Mitch Evans
RUSSIAN TIME

Fastest Lap: Norman Nato (Arden International) – 1:21.886 on lap 17