Auto GP

Quaife-Hobbs Seals Auto GP Title Despite Throwing Race Win Away

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Adrian Quaife-Hobbs - Photo Credit: Auto GP

Adrian Quaife-Hobbs has wrapped up the Auto GP title despite crashing out of a 35 second lead when entering the pitlane in the second race in Curitiba. The race win was inherited by Antonio Pizzonia, who completed a double victory on his debut.

Quaife-Hobbs started third on the grid but a good launch put him into the race lead heading down to turn one. With those behind him having made their mandatory pitstops, the Kent driver had a lead of 35 seconds when he finally headed for the pits on lap 20 of 23.

However, as he entered the pits he took too much speed, slid sideways and into the tyre wall, retiring on the spot.

Nearest rival Pal Varhaug however could only finish in fifth, meaning he cannot catch Quaife-Hobbs at the season finale in Sonoma.

Pizzonia made a lightning start to fly from eighth to third by the first corner, and then took second place from teammate, fellow Brazilian and debutant Rafael Suzuki.

When Quaife-Hobbs crashed out, Pizzonia took the lead and crossed the finish line eight seconds ahead of Chris van der Drift. The Kiwi was third early on and emerged from his stop just ahead of Sergey Sirotkin and Varhaug.

Van der Drift's teammate at Manor MP Motorsport, Daniel De Jong, got ahead of both Varhaug and then Sirotkin to take fourth, finishing just behind his driver coach van der Drift.

Sirotkin lacked the pace he had shown earlier in the season and finished four seconds behind De Jong and just ahead of Varhaug. Suzuki finished sixth, with Max Snegirev seventh and Sergio Campana eighth.

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Peter joined the TCF team in September 2010 and covers GP2 and GP3 along with WTCC and Formula Two. You can find him on twitter at @PeteAllen_
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