Estoril EF Open: Pulcini dominates opener after first-lap drama
Leonardo Pulcini took his second win in the EuroFormula Open championship, dominating in the first race of the 2016 season at Estoril circuit.
Photo by: FotoSpeedy
Starting from pole, the Campos Racing driver got off the line perfectly to lead the race, as front-row starter Jack Aitken was passed by a fast-starting Ferdinand Habsburg.
Behind the leading pack, GP3 driver Tatiana Calderon collided with Antoni Ptak on the start/finish line, ending both their races.
The Colombian was going for a move, but her left rear touched the right front of the Polish driver's car, as she swept across the track and hit the barriers.
On the same lap, Renault academy driver Aitken, after losing second place, was in a battle for third with Colton Herta when both made contact, sending the American into the barriers at turn 6.
While Herta’s race ended, Aitken limped back to the pits with a damaged rear wing but got back into the race, albeit running a lap down.
Up ahead, Pulcini dominated the proceedings with Habsburg ending up second and Campos' Diago Menchaca completing the podium.
Damiano Fioravanti finished fourth, after overtaking Thai Tanart Sathienthirakul midway in the 19-lap race.
Sixth-placed Igor Walilko made up eight spots, starting from 14th, his charge including a hefty battle with Kantadhee Kusiri in the opening stages, the latter settling for seventh.
Behind them, Julio Moreno, Keyvan Andres and Daniele Cazzaniga completed the top 10.
Race 1 results:
Pos | Driver | Car/Engine | Time/Gap |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Leonardo Pulcini | Dallara/Toyota | 30'30.599 |
2 | Ferdinand Habsburg | Dallara/Toyota | 3.662 |
3 | Diego Menchaca | Dallara/Toyota | 7.452 |
4 | Damiano Fioravanti | Dallara/Toyota | 7.947 |
5 | Tanart Sathienthirakul | Dallara/Toyota | 17.166 |
6 | Igor Walilko | Dallara/Toyota | 18.554 |
7 | Kusiri Kantadhee | Dallara/Toyota | 28.459 |
8 | Julio Moreno | Dallara/Toyota | 31.754 |
9 | Keyvan Soori | Dallara/Toyota | 32.671 |
10 | Daniele Cazzaniga | Dallara/Toyota | 34.155 |
11 | Nikita Zlobin | Dallara/Toyota | 34.970 |
12 | Danylo Pronenko | Dallara/Toyota | 36.009 |
13 | Kang Ling | Dallara/Toyota | 36.420 |
14 | Petru Florescu | Dallara/Toyota | 39.404 |
15 | Ameya Vaidyanathan | Dallara/Toyota | 39.796 |
16 | Jose Manuel Vilalta | Dallara/Toyota | 50.622 |
17 | Jack Aitken | Dallara/Toyota | 59.224 |
18 | Gulhuseyen Abdullayev | Dallara/Toyota | 59.303 |
19 | Hong Li Ye | Dallara/Toyota | |
Ret | Antoni Ptak | Dallara/Toyota | |
Ret | Colton Herta | Dallara/Toyota | |
Ret | Tatiana Calderon | Dallara/Toyota |
Results to follow
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