Daniel Abt has again confirmed the changing trend in GP2. At the eighth weekend at Spa-Francorchamps the German clinched positions eight and five and scored further points for the overall classification. With 27 Championship points and twelfth place, Abt is now approaching the top ten in the drivers’ standings.
The result of the hard work was clearly visible in Belgium. In a difficult race on Saturday the Hilmer driver showed a strong recovery yet again. After starting from position 18, the racer from the Allgäu advanced to eighth place. “This was really a crazy main race. Heavy rain, an interruption of the race in between – a lot more in terms of turbulences isn’t possible. That’s why eighth place in the end carries even more weight,” says Abt. On a reversed grid this finish meant the pole position for the 21-year-old on Sunday: “Obviously, I was overjoyed to start the race from my first GP2 pole.”
The weather conditions on Sunday were clearly better. The wet tarmac began to dry quickly when the GP2 field sporting the orange-coloured Pirelli tyres was waiting for the green light. Abt made a good start but still lost position one to Felipe Nasr in the process. A few turns later, in Les Combres, the GP2 driver briefly swerved after being attacked by a rival and had to let three other drivers pass him. But just a lap later he recovered and secured fourth place. The only German in the field tried everything to still finish on the podium, battling his way into the slipstream of Jolyon Palmer in front of him: “I was close to the podium some of the time but then, on the last lap, suffered a major loss of engine power and became slower.” So slow in fact that Abt still lost P4 to Mitch Evans.
In the end, the Hilmer driver managed to bring home fifth place. “I’d incredibly liked clinching a podium for the team. In the next three races we’re going to give everything to make this happen. I’m sure: the champagne shower will follow shortly.”
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