Germany extend lead in A1GP standings

Nico Hulkenberg enhanced his already growing reputation with a double race win in the New Zealand round of the A1GP series to extend Germany’s lead in the championship standings.

Young French driver Loic Duval took second in the feature race as he held off the attentions of home driver Jonny Reid.

Irish driver Richard Lyons suffered a driveshaft problem in the sprint race and broke his car’s rear suspension after clipping a kerb in the feature race, a disappointing end to the day after qualifying strongly on debut.

Hulkenberg had earlier won the sprint race as he led home Duval and Reid in the finishing order which was to be repeated later in the feature race.

Hulkenberg was delighted with his first double race win of the season and said: “I got into my rhythm, I was able to find my pace and I could make a little gap between us.

“My manager was a little bit sick this week and I think I have caught something off him but I am all right. I drank a lot, about four litres before the race and I am okay.

“I want to say a big thank you to the team as we had a good strategy and a great pit stop. I am so pleased to be here and to have won the race and I am really looking forward to Australia.”

Home driver Reid, who finished third in the sprint and feature races, was impressed by the event which had attracted 80,000 spectators to the Taupo circuit.

He added: “Everyone has done a fantastic job. Credit to everyone in A1 Team New Zealand, A1GP, the government, everyone who has put this event together.”

Britain’s Robbie Kerr saw his team drop from second to fourth in the standings after an impressive sprint race to finish eighth. That came despite a damaged car and was followed by a battery failure in the feature race which forced him out on lap six of 40.