Pastor Maldonado triumphed in the opening round of the Euroseries 3000 championship at the Algarve circuit today, as he sought to learn the track ahead of the GP2 finale at the venue in September. Maldonado lost a place to the fast-starting Fabio Onidi at the start, but worked his way by the Italian and pole-sitter Marco Bonanomi to cap a fabulous drive with a well-earned win.
Former GP2 Asia racer Fabrizio Crestani finished third, ahead of GP2 regular Diego Nunes, with a third of the series' drivers, Michael Herck, coming home in fifth.The GP2 drivers will have another opportunity to extend their knowledge of the Portuguese circuit in the second race tomorrow, which Fabio Onidi will start from pole position, alongside another former GP2 regular, Clivio Piccione.