Sato completes Auto GP double

Kimiya Sato's formidable race one form carried on in Hungary as the Euronova driver completed his first double Auto GP victory.

From eighth on the reversed grid, Sato enjoyed his second strong start of the meeting to move into fifth by Turn 1.

The Kobe driver moved to the front of the field by adopting a repeat of his race one long first stint strategy, but underlying searing pace was key to the success. Sato's fastest lap was over a second quicker than his rivals' efforts, as he secured a 7.2-second margin of victory over polesitter Vittorio Ghirelli.

Reigning Auto GP champion and sometime Indy Lights racer Ghirelli made a slow initial getaway in his first start in the category this season, but the Italian recovered the lead from Paul Ricard winner Kevin Giovesi thanks to a bold manoeuvre around the outside of Turn 1.

Having been hamstrung by a roll bar working loose in race one, Sam Dejonghe appeared assured in third place initially ahead of crowd favourite Tamas Pal Kiss, Sato and Ghirelli's Super Nova teammate Markus Pommer.

Managing his tires in cool conditions, Sato dropped behind Pommer at Turn 1 on lap four, but it was to be the only occasion where he appeared to be struggling.

As Giovesi, Dejonghe and Pommer made their pit stops, a path was cleared for Sato. Faced with a 7.5sec deficit to Ghirelli, Sato picked up the pace and was shortly the only driver lapping below the 1m35s mark. The healthy speed advantage would allow Sato to leapfrog Ghirelli during the stops.

Last year's Hungaroring victor Ghirelli wound down the final laps in a safe second, some three seconds clear of Auto GP rookie Dejonghe, who claimed his first podium in the series.

Giovesi held off a charging drive from Dejonghe's Virtuosi UK teammate Andrea Roda to take fourth, while Pommer completed the top six.

Sato now comfortably leads the Auto GP drivers' standings with 114 points, while second-placed Tamas Pal Kiss has 75.

Originally on Autosport.com