The Repsol driver made sure of second place on the next couple of laps by getting away from Soucek. On lap 5 Glock was the leader, with Villa 1.7 seconds behind him and Soucek 1.9 behind the Repsol driver. In spite of reducing the gap on Javier Villa over the next few laps it was not enough to catch Glock but at the same time he extended the lead he had over Soucek and from then on he dedicated his efforts to protecting his position and tring to get further away from his rivals behind him.
Their positions did not change on the final 10 laps and at the ed of the race Javier Villa crossed the line in an excellent second position, this also helped him to give him 6th place in the season`s overall GP2 series 2007 classification.
Marcos Martínez once again saw the bitter side of racing today. The Repsol driver started in 5th position after his great performance in yesterday`s long race, when he finished 4th. A great start meant he rose one place at the first curve and to get into third position behind his teammate. Nevertheless on the fourth lap he misjudged a curve and the Brazilian Negrao tried to overtake him on the inside. There was not enough space and the wheels on the Minardi Piquet Sports hit the side of the Repsol driver`s car. He was able to continue although he was overtaken by the rest of the group and fell back to 25th place without being able to make any more progress.
Javier Villa
“Things went well today. Thestart was not one of my best, but even so I was able to get into second place. I drove fast so as to keep a good difference between mysef and the car behind and that allowed me to maintain my position right to the end. Finishing second and doing it in Valenciais is very good for everybody: for the team, the sponsors and all the people that have helped and supported me.”
Marcos Martínez
“I got off to a good start and I moved into third place, then I was able to keep up with the pace set by the leaders in spite of a lot of oversteer. I took a curve a bit too long and so two other cars got past me; on the following curve one of them hit me and I span. The rest of the race I spent gaining experience in the car. The whole weekend has been very positive.”
Race 1
The Repsol drivers in the GP2 Series managed to win points in yesterdays complicated race, the first of the weekend, held in changeable weather at the circuit of Ricardo Tormo in Cheste. The sky was grey at the start and a fine rain was also falling on the circuit, this made the teams hesitant about the tyre selection . When the red lights went out some cars had slicks on whilst others had rain tyres on. The two Repsol drivers used slicks, a decision that soon turned out to be the right one.
Javier Villa made a clean start whilst Marcos Martínez had a spectacular one, moving up to 8th posición at the end of the first lap. Martínez continued to progress and joined the leading group, on the 3rd lap he was fifth. As the rain began to fall more heavily the track conditions got more complicated. Both Marcos Martínez as well as Javier Villa drove solidly rising in the classification when it was possible but without making any mistakes.
Villa, who was in the midde of a fight with Pantano, made his obligatory pit-stop on lap 12, and was soon followed by his teammate. The rain eased off and the circuit began to dry slowly. Marcos Martínez continued in 4th position ahead of Nakajima and getting away from Filippi. Javier Villa was 11th but closing in on Tung and also ahead of Hernández. These positions did not change for a few laps, then on lap 24 Tung went off the track but when he made it back on he was behind Villa in 10th position.
Marcos Martínez raced alone staying in 4th position and increasing his lead over Filippi, which reached thirty-two seconds on lap 32. Javier Villa cut the gap on the Rusian Aleshin and on lap 36 he overtook him when braking very late, he was then in 9th place. On the last few laps Martínez stayed in 4th position, whilst Javier Villa moved up to 8th when Filippi span leaving the final curve and was left trapped in the escape lane.
Javier Villa
“This was a tough raee, especially at the start when at times we were faster than those with wet tyres on. Towrds the end of the race, when things had calmed down a bit, I managed to set a good pace and this could be helpful looking forward to tomorrow`s race.”
Marcos Martínez
“We took a risk using slicks and after a good start I got into a good position, but then it began to rain even heavier. However, we decided to continue wth the dry tyres and it was the right decision. After 10 difficult laps the circuit began to dry out and I had to drive fast just to maintain my position. I want to thank the whole team for their work and I hope to have a good race tomorrow.”
