Argentine driver Facu Regalia was victorious in the opening Auto GP race of the season at a wet Hungaroring after capitalising on a mistake from long time leader Antonio Pizzonia.
The race begun behind the safety car in Hungary due to the inclement weather, and it was Zele Racing’s former Formula 1 driver Pizzonia who held the lead for the majority of the race on Saturday before a mistake with just two laps remaining allowed FMS Racing’s Regalia into the lead that he would not relinquish.
Christof von Grünigen completed the podium, albeit over twenty seconds adrift of the lead battle, with the Paolo Coloni Racing driver getting the best of Leonardo Pulcini in the second FMS Racing entry late in the day to finish third.
Johnny Cecotto Jr finished fifth after starting at the back of the field, with the Virtuosi UK driver passing Luis Sa Silva of Zele Racing in the closing stages, while Nikita Zlobin of Virtuosi UK and Andres Mendez of Zele Racing completed the finishing positions in seventh and eighth.
There was one retirement, with Italian gentleman driver Giuseppe Cipriani spinning out on lap three in his Ibiza Racing Team machine.
Mendez will start the reverse grid race two on Sunday from pole position alongside Zlobin, with race one winner Regalia down in eighth. Race two begins at 12:15 local time on Sunday.
Hungaroring Race 1 Result
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