After struggling in the past four legs of the GP3 Series, Rio Haryanto returned to the spotlight over the weekend, braving the rain to take out Race 1 of the German event at Nurburgring.
It was an emotional result for the Marussia Manor Racing driver, who started third off the grid on Saturday. “It’s such a special moment and I’m honestly just a bit speechless,” the 18-year-old was quoted as saying on the GP3 Series official Web site. “I’m from Indonesia and there are not many racing drivers [from the country] so to win in these conditions, it’s such a special day.”
The race was full of drama as light rain fell when the drivers lined up on the grid.
Rio was the only driver who stuck with slick tires. MW Arden’s pole-sitter Mitch Evans, Status GP’s Antonio Felix Da Costa, who started second, and fourth starter Tom Dillmann from Addax switching to wet tires before the race.
The gamble paid off, as the rain stopped just after the race started, and Rio battled for the lead with Evans and Lewis Williamson of MW Arden.
In tough conditions, Evans was at one stage 1.1 seconds ahead of Williamson, with Rio dropping to fourth after being passed by Lotus Art’s Valtteri Botas. But Evans had to surrender the lead to Williamson as he was handed a 10-second stop-and-go penalty for not having his wheels fitted at the three-minute race-start warning.
Rio had a three-way battle with Williamson and Botas in the last five laps, and the Indonesian managed to hold on to take his first win of the season, followed by Williamson and Botas. The win ensured Rio moved up to 11th place in the standings with 13 points.
“I just tried to drive as smoothly as possible and find the driest lines on track,” Rio said. “We were just trying to be gentle and not make any mistakes. It’s so easy to run off the track and miss your braking point or to lock up your wheels. But in the end I managed to hold on.”
In Race 2, Rio finished in 10th place. Bottas secured his maiden win, followed by Alexander Sims and Nigel Melker.
Last year, in his debut season, Rio finished with a win in Turkey and was fifth overall in the final standings.
Rio was the first Indonesian to test a Formula One car, driving for Virgin Racing in November. (Wimbo Satwiko)
Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com