Javier Villa turned a front row start into victory for a third time in the 2007 GP2 Series, but the young Spaniard had to rely on a little luck to complete his hat-trick at the Hungaroring.
The championship battle was a little overshadowed by the action on track, but closed even further after
Timo Glock was robbed by technical failure on his iSport entry while battling with title rival Lucas di Grassi. The Brazilian went on to claim fourth place, narrowing the deficit to a single point.
Having won two sprint races already this season - he would be leading any championship for the Sunday events - Villa was expected to seize the lead as the lights went out in Budapest, but the teenager was beaten to the first corner by front row partner Adrian Zaugg, who made the better getaway. Although the South African locked up under braking on the dirtier inside line, he managed to hold the advantage, and immediately set about opening up a gap over Villa and the rest.
By the end of the lap, it wasn't event the Racing Engineering driver leading the pursuit, Villa having been passed by flying countryman Roldan Rodriguez at the chicane. While the Minardi Piquet Sport driver followed Zaugg in opening a slight advantage, Villa dropped into the clutches of race one winner Adam Carroll, who had disposed of Borja Garcia, Lucas di Grassi, Andi Zuber and
Kazuki Nakajima with a demon start from eighth. The same quartet filled the next four places, with championship leader Glock next up in ninth, having immediately gained a place when Ho-Pin Tung stalled at the start.
Garcia lost another two spots next time around, di Grassi and Zuber both getting past the Durango car, while Glock and Giorgio Pantano both moved ahead of Nakajima as the midfield jostled for position. Glock then out-foxed Garcia around the outside of turn one to move onto the verge of the points, as the top seven began to come together once more.
