F.BMW: Sainz takes first win as Harvey extends lead

Jack Harvey scored his fifth victory of the season on home soil at Silverstone last weekend, while there was a first Formula BMW Europe win of the season for Carlos Sainz in race two.

Race 1:

Harvey took a relatively straight forward win in race one, beating Sainz off the line before romping away at the front.
 

The Fortec driver started second but was already past the impressive Spanish rookie by Copse. Robin Frijns and Facu Regalia then ensured that Sainz had been bundled down to fourth by the end of lap one.

As Harvey pulled clear, there was some excellent racing further back and none more so than that between Regalia, Sainz and Timmy Hansen.

At the end of lap four the Eurointernational driver was right with the Argentinean and took the final place back for good with a daring lunge. Hansen very nearly followed him through but was forced to bide his time before making a second successful attempt.

Out front Harvey took the chequered flag 1.8secs clear of chief title rival Frijns. The pair were in a league of their own though with Sainz a further 9secs adrift in third.   

Fahmi Ilyas was sixth ahead of Marc Coleselli, Petri Suvanto, Hannes Van Asseldonk and Michael Lewis.

Race 2:
Sainz became only the third different winner in 2010 with victory in the weekend’s second race.

Again he fluffed his start, allowing Frijns to jump ahead into Copse, but was able to maintain the leader’s pace before passing the Dutch driver and pulling clear.

Home favourite Harvey was also right with the lead battle but a slight mistake in the fast Maggots/Becketts complex saw him lose part of the car’s floor. The resulting lack of downforce all-but ended his hopes of a double victory, coming home third.

Regalia was fourth ahead of George Katsinis who had earlier enjoyed a splendid mid-race battle with Suvanto.

Javier Tarancon was seventh with Ilyas and Lewis rounding out the top ten.

The result sees Harvey increase his championship lead over Frijns to 35 points while Sainz moves up to third. 

Catch Formula BMW Europe coverage on Motors TV throughout 2010.

Tom Hornsby