Esteban Gutierrez

Mexican driver Esteban Gutierrez, supported exceptionally by Lotus ART Team, demonstrated his brilliant work and talent by winning the sprint race on the circuit of Valencia, Spain, and reaching in the process his first podium in the GP2 Series.

Esteban started the second race of the weekend from second on the grid, managing to retain the position throughout the first lap. An accident on turn five, caused by other three drivers, brought out the safety car, which gave him an opportunity at the restart to put pressure on Josef Kral and take over first place, keeping the position for the remainder of the race.

Esteban Gutierrez
Lotus ART Team / Car # 6 / Telmex / Multigama / Fastenal / Vector Casa de Bolsa / Interproteccion / DeAcero / Total Health Nutrients / Alpinestars / Bell Helmets

“What we have done is definitely a big step forward. At the beginning the race was difficult and then it was a matter of being focused and consistent and to conserve the tires, and we made it”, mentioned the driver after the race.

The first three events of his debut season in the GP2 Series were difficult for the Mexican, who could not see them through, and for that reason Gutierrez and team Lotus ART are very satisfied with the great progress they achieved this weekend.

“We managed to achieve our objective of finishing the race, and the end result came a little earlier than we expected, which makes us feel very happy and we will do our best effort to be consistent to make this not just a one race success because our goal is to continue earning points little by little.

“It is all about work and it is a process. We had three difficult events before, which are now a part of this win because we learned a lot from them, we have worked after that and we have tried to make the most out of it”, he remarked.

Esteban finished the 23 lap race with a total time of 43 minutes 34.905 seconds, followed by Luiz Razia from Team AirAsia  in 43’ 47.900” and Giedo Van Der Garde from Addax Team in 43’ 48.747”.

“I am grateful to the team because we have improved the car very much and today we had a car to win the race, which helped me to be consistent and confident to turn our advantage into a win.

“Winning is a great motivation but at the same time we have to preserve our head cool because we have to keep in mind that I am a rookie and we are going to try and be more efficient and take advantage of our progress.”

Valencia suits well Gutierrez, who dominated this circuit in 2008 by winning in the Formula BMW Europe and then won last year in the GP3 Series, to do the same this time around in the F1 feeder series.

“I really don’t think much about it, it is a track I enjoy, I enjoyed this race very much from the beginning to the end and the thing about the result and having won here in other categories is another thing that adds up to the history but right now we have to think in the present time.

“I enjoyed the race very much. I had had very difficult races before but today’s experience is very good for us, not only for having won but also because we were consistent and progressed in the right direction, which will help me in the future”, explained Gutierrez.

Finally, Esteban thanked his family, friends, sponsors and fans for their support through the difficult times as well as in winning and through the good times.

“I dedicate this win to my mom, whose birthday was last Friday. I am very grateful to my friends, my family, my girlfriend and my sponsors for their support in the good as well as the bad times. I also thank my fans because they are a very important part of my career”, concluded the 19 year old driver.

With the result of this weekend in Valencia, Esteban Gutierrez earned nine points to place himself tenth in the championship standings.

RACE 2 RESULTS:

POS / NO / DRIVER / NAT / TEAM

1 6 E. GUTIERREZ MEX Lotus ART
2 26 L. RAZIA BRA Caterham Team AirAsia
3 4 G. VAN DER GARDE NED Barwa Addax Team
4 27 D. VALSECCHI ITA Caterham Team AirAsia
5 7 D. CLOS ESP Racing Engineering
6 18 M. HERCK ROU Scuderia Coloni
7 5 J. BIANCHI FRA Lotus ART
8 22 K. MIROCHA GER Ocean Racing Technology
9 2 J. LEAL ITA Rapax
10 12 P. VARHAUG NOR Dams
11 10 M. ERICSSON SWE iSport International
12 9 S. BIRD GBR iSport International
13 8 C. VIETORIS GER Racing Engineering
14 1 F. LEIMER SUI Rapax
15 17 L. FILIPPI ITA Super Nova Racing
16 16 F. FAUZY MAS Super Nova Racing
17 23 J. CECOTTO VEN Ocean Racing Technology
18 25 A. PARENTE POR Carlin
19 21 S. COLETTI MON Trident Racing
20 19 K. CECCON ITA Scuderia Coloni

DRIVERS WHO DID NOT FINISHED THE RACE:

14 J. KRAL CZE Arden International
15 J. PALMER GBR Arden International
24 M. CHILTON GBR Carlin
11 R. GROSJEAN FRA Dams
20 R. GONZALEZ VEN Trident Racing
3 C. PIC FRA Barwa Addax Team

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For more information about Esteban Gutierrez, the Lotus ART Team, the GP2 Series, or his sponsors Multigama, Telmex, Fastenal, Vector Casa de Bolsa, Interproteccion, DeAcero, Total Health Nutrients, Alpinestars and Bell, visit their official websites at: www.estebanracing.com, www.art-grandprix.com,  www.gp2series.com, www.escuderiatelmex.com, www.fastenal.com, www.vector.com.mx, www.interproteccion.com.mx, www.deacero.com, www.totalhealthnutrients.com, www.alpinestars.com, www.bellsports.com