Italian Francesco Cantando achieved his first victory of the season and his 11th career win at the third round of the World Formula 1 Championship held on Marina Bay Singapore on September 18.
Italian Francesco Cantando achieved his first victory of the season and his 11th career win at the third round of the World Formula 1 Championship held on Marina Bay Singapore on September 18.
The 52 lap contest over a 1.8 kilometer course began with Italian champion Guido Cappellini taking the lead from pole position with American Scott Gillman looking for his third consecutive win on Marina Bay close behind but his attempt was short-lived. Belgium driver Julius Leysen crashed before the first lap was over stopping the race and forcing a restart.
Cappellini held off Gillman once again after the restart before the yellow came out once again when Mohammed Al Ali from Qatar came to a stop. The second restart had Gillman closing on Cappellini who was about to pull alongside when the race was stopped for a third time.
The third restart saw Gillman and Cappellini virtually side by side for the next seven laps with finally Gillman passing Cappellini as they approached the right hand turning marker. Eight-time world champion Cappellini had nowhere to go and with neither driver giving ground forced Cappellini over defending world champion Gillman. Gillman barrel rolling violently before coming to a stop upside down. Cappellini also barrel rolled. The audience of thousands spread around the race course saw what appeared to be a fatal accident but fortunately both drivers escaped unharmed.
Following the accident, UIM officials decided that Cappellini was to blame for the accident and he was immediately issued with a red card preventing him competing in the next championship scheduled in Doha, Qatar, in November. This decision will open up the championship with Cappellini failing to gain any points in the last two grand prix.
Benefiting was Italian Francesco Cantando who achieved his first victory of the season and his first since the opening round of the 2004 at the Grand Prix of India. Finnish driver Sami Selio finished second with Frenchman Philippe Dessertenne filling third slot.
Although the race was restarted yet again after the crash it continued for only eight laps before a time limit stopped the event with a total of 18 laps run forcing the organisers to award half the normal points.
Italian Fabio Comparato finished fourth; Laith Pharaon from Saudi Arabia fifth; Australian David Trask sixth; Italian Massimo Roggiero seventh; Italian Luigi Roberto eighth; Rolf Sunde of Norway ninth with Thani Al Qamzi of the Emirates Team rounding out the remaining fleet in tenth place.
The Singapore result still leaves Guido Cappellini heading the world F1 championship table with 40 points. Sami Selio from Finland lies second with 22.5 and Italian Fabio Comparato third with 21.5 points.
