GP2 win for BAR Young Driver Adam Carroll

By BAR Honda
September 13 2005

BAR Honda Young Driver Adam Carroll won the second GP2 race on Sunday at Spa-Francorchamps. Throughout the weekend Adam impressed with front-of-the-field lap times.

However, an accident by Heikki Kovalainen during Adam's hot lap in qualifying prevented the Ulsterman from achieving a better grid spot than eighth for the first of the two races.

An excellent effort in Race 1 – which featured four safety car periods – saw him lead the field for a time before dropping behind Jose Maria Lopez and championship contender Kovalainen in a tough battle at the front. All three held off their pitstops for as long as possible expecting rain late in the race. The track remained dry and the eventual stops proved too late for all three, who were passed while in the pitlane by the chasing pack. Adam, however, was able to get the better of both Kovalainen and Lopez to salvage the final point in eighth position.

Race 2 was started under a safety car in heavy rain but Adam powered away from the field after they were released on lap one, putting in a series of fastest laps. A big accident prematurely ended the race on lap eleven and, with Adam easily in the lead, he was declared the winner. However, with 75 percent of the full race distance not completed, he only picks up half points for his efforts. Despite this, Adam has now moved up to joint fourth in the championship table on 53 points.

The final races in the series will take place in Bahrain on 25 September.