Mirko Bortolotti - Photo Credit: FIA Formula Two Championship
Mirko Bortolotti brought the curtain down on a largely dominant season in the FIA Formula Two Championship with a second cruise to victory from as many races at the season finale at Barcelona.
After winning Saturday's race, the Italian again seemed in a class of his own at the Circuit de Catalunya. Starting from pole position, he had to defend from local Ramon Pineiro at the first corner but held onto the lead and stretched his margin over the Spaniard to eight seconds over the course of the 22 lap race.
It was Bortolotti's seventh win of the year, matching Andy Soucek's record from 2009 and bringing his overall tally in the series to eight – itself a new record.
“I knew it was going to be decided on the start but my start was very bad,” he said. “I’m disappointed about that, but I managed to brake really late into Turn 1 and pass Ramon on the outside, which is not easy.
“That was the key for this win as once you get your position, it’s difficult for the guy behind to get a run to overtake you, so I knew it was going to be very important to be first at the end of the first lap.
“I wanted to win this race because I wanted to make it eight Formula Two wins. I’m very proud about this and winning the last two races in Formula Two is fantastic and that’s my way to say goodbye to all these people I had the pleasure to work with these two seasons, so I’m delighted and I’m very happy.”
Pineiro's second place was his seventh from the last eight races, but it left him four points short of the runner-up spot that was sealed by Christopher Zanella, who finished the race seventh.
Mihai Marinescu made a flying start from fourth on the grid to challenge Bortolotti and Pineiro into the first corner, but would settle for third ahead of Miki Monras, who wasn't able to make it a double podium weekend at his local track.
Alex Brundle kept Kelvin Snoeks and Zanella at bay to finish fifth. Mikkel Mac came home eighth after passing Jack Clarke, who kept Benjamin Lariche behind him to finish ninth.
Barcelona, Race two result:
1. Mirko Bortolotti, 22 Laps
2. Ramon Pineiro, +8.073s
3. Mihai Marinescu, +11.782s
4. Miki Monras, +13.008s
5. Alex Brundle, +25.133s
6. Kelvin Snoeks, +25.977s
7. Christopher Zanella, +27.201s
8. Mikkel Mac, +28.002s
9. Jack Clarke, +39.918s
10. Benjamin Lariche, +39.698s
2011 FIA Formula Two Championship – Final driver standings (inc dropped scores):
1. Mirko Bortolotti, 298
2. Christopher Zanella, 189
3. Ramon Pineiro, 185
4. Miki Monras, 153
5. Mihai Marinescu, 138
6. Tobias Hegewald, 121
7. Alex Brundle, 112
8. Jack Clarke, 110
9. Will Bratt, 92
10. Kelvin Snoeks, 40
