19.09.09 TURVEY CLOSES IN ON TOP THREE Formula Renault 3.5 rookie Oliver Turvey kept up the pressure for a top three finish in the championship with fourth place in the reverse grid race at the Nurburgring this afternoon. Turvey, who started sixth, made up four places by turn one despite being edged ever closer to the pitwall at the start by the ultra defensive Jon Lancaster, a misdemeanour that ultimately cost the offending driver a 10 second penalty. Turvey, undeterred by the over-aggressive tactics, pressed on to take second place into the first turn but was forced to give way when pushed wide, an act of self preservation that dropped him to fourth on the exit. Over the following 11 laps - four of which were spent behind the safety car - the RSF driver kept position, line astern behind Lancaster. But on lap 12 the hard-charging Fairuz Fauzy, who had closed in on Turvey on lap nine after dispensing with Alguersuari the previous lap, managed to find a way past. Turvey crossed the finish line in fifth behind polesitter Move who had been overhauled by Fauzy on lap 18. All three drivers subsequently inherited a place after Lancaster dropped from second at the flag to ninth as a result of the penalty meted out by stewards for dangerous driving. The eight points gained by Turvey today move him up to fifth in the driver standings. Race winner Baguette on 122pts stretched his lead at the top of the table to 42 and now looks odds on favourite to clinch the title. But the race for second in the championship is still wide open with just three points separating Alguersuari in second place from Turvey ahead of the pitstop race tomorrow. Turvey, who has 77pts, starts from third on the grid behind polesitter Brendon Hartley and Charles Pic. Walker and Alguesuari start from fifth and 10th on the grid. "I'm in a strong position thanks to the points gained today," he said. "I got an amazing start which set me up for a good race. Unfortunately Fauzy was really quick and had really good braking which made it impossible for me to keep him behind. "Then soon after he got past I ended up behind Move who was slowing me up but I couldn't get close enough to him to get by. But we got fourth and some strong points which is good." << back to news