Hockenheim Race 2: Blomqvist and Giovinazzi claim 1-2 in penultimate F3 race

Tom Blomqvist

It was a Jagonya Ayam with Carlin 1-2 today, in the penultimate round of the 2014 FIA Formula 3 European Championship. Tom Blomqvist led an eventful race from start to finish to claim 25 precious points and pull out a two point lead on Max Verstappen in the fight for second in the championship. Antonio Giovinazzi claimed a well fought second place to follow his team mate home, while Sean Gelael endured a difficult race to cross the line 17th.

It was an all yellow front row this afternoon, as Blomqvist and Giovinazzi started from first and second on the grid, while Gelael lined up 10th for the second race of the weekend. Blomqvist made a great start off the line to hold the lead, while Giovinazzi was jumped by Lucas Auer who stole through into second.

Gelael meanwhile was about to see his race compromised by an incident at the hairpin, which left the Indonesian teenager with a damaged front nose. Forced to pit for a replacement wing and nose cone, Gelael's race was compromised further due to delays in the pit lane and the Jagonya Ayam man re-joined at the back of the field.

Blomqvist wasn't having it all his own way either; the safety car was called out on lap six, which bunched up the field and put Auer right behind the leader. When the racing action resumed shortly after, Blomqvist made the perfect restart to maintain his position. Giovinazzi meanwhile temporarily came under attack from fourth placed Esteban Ocon, but held off the newly crowned champion and was able to pull away again.

With Giovinazzi now able to pull away from Ocon, the Italian started to close in again on Auer. When the Austrian made a mistake a few laps later at the hairpin, Giovinazzi seized the moment to take second back.

Gelael meanwhile was trying hard to make progress and by the end of the race had recovered to 17th. Blomqvist completed a faultless race to take his 6th race win of the season, with Giovinazzi taking a strong second, with a comfortable gap back to third placed Auer.

Race winner Blomqvist said, "It was a bit nerve wracking at the start; I felt like I had a little bit of a clutch issue at the start, so I was a bit worried about that and it was affecting me a bit for the first couple of laps exiting the hairpin. Then it settled down and I was able to pull out a bit of a gap. After the safety car came out but I knew I had to nail the restart and then it was about controlling the gap. It's a great result for the Jagonya Ayam with Carlin team, not just for those here, but also everyone in Indonesia."

Speaking about the fight for second in the championship, Blomqvist added, "Tomorrow is going to be an interesting one. I'm not thinking about the points so much. It's all about wining as many races as possible and I'd be more gutted not to win the race than to come third in the championship. Winning the race is my only aim tomorrow and if that brings with it second in the standings that will be a bonus."

Giovinazzi added, "I made a good start, but Lucas [Auer] made a really good one. He passed me in the first corner. I was trying keep the pressure on him throughout the race, I could see he was having some problems as he kept locking up. After a mistake in the hairpin I just took the opportunity. It's a really good result for the team to take first and second. We'll try to make some small changes for tomorrow and starting from P4 we try to win the race or stand on the podium again."

With one race remaining, the fight for the title of Vice Champion goes down to the wire. Blomqvist currently has a two point advantage over Verstappen and starts tomorrow's season from pole.

RESULTS – 19 LAPS: