Victory 1 wins Norwegian Grand Prix in Arendal
Sunday, 19 July, ARENDAL (Norway): A dramatic BMW Norwegian Grand Prix saw Victory 1’s Jean-Marc Sanchez guide rookie driver, Mohammed Al Mehairi, to his first Class 1 win in just his second race.
Maritimo 11’s Tom Barry-Cotter and Pal Virik Nilsen were rewarded for their stunning opening lap with second place, to take their first Class 1 podium finish, with team-mates Giorgio Manuzzi and Peter McGrath giving further cause for celebration, taking their first podium in third place.
Championship leaders, Fazza and Qatar 96, both suffered misfortunes; Fazza stopping due to technical problems, with Qatar 96’s race ending in spectacular fashion, barrel-rolling on lap seven.
The Victory duo of Mohammed Al Mehairi and Jean-Marc Sanchez lived up to the promise they showed in the morning’s practice and qualifying session, setting the fastest time to take their first pole position, with a richly deserved win.
However, Victory 1 did not have it all their own way, when Fazza showed their pace to take the lead from their team-mates on lap six. But a technical problem ended their hopes, with Al Mehairi and Sanchez going on to take a sensational win. “After Friday it was not looking good. But a pole position and a win, we can’t have had a better weekend,” said Sanchez.
The win is the ninth of Sanchez’s career, but he was quick to give credit to his pilot Al Mehairi and his crew. “Mohammed was great today, he drove perfectly. The crew have given us a great boat, the engines were absolutely singing. This is the first win of many.” The win takes Victory 1 to the top of the Championship standings after two rounds.
Read more on: Class-1.com
