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Williams rises from (garage) ashes

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<b>A GP WIN AND GARAGE FIRE ALL IN ONE AFTERNOON:</b> Williams had an explosive race in Spain earning themseleves their first GP win in eight years and a garage fire during the same afternoon.
<b>A GP WIN AND GARAGE FIRE ALL IN ONE AFTERNOON:</b> Williams had an explosive race in Spain earning themseleves their first GP win in eight years and a garage fire during the same afternoon.
LONDON, UK - Bruno Senna's Formula 1 car came through the 2012 Spanish GP garage fire relatively undamaged and the Williams driver will use it at the Monaco GP over May 24/27.

The car was in the team's Circuit de Catalunya garage when a fire broke out as the team posed for a victory photograph after Pastor Maldonado's first Formula 1 win. Photographs showed it surrounded by charred debris and covered by extinguisher foam but a team spokeswoman said the chassis was fine.

'HERCULEAN EFFORT'

Williams' chief operations engineer Mark Gillan said in a team preview that while preparations for Monaco had been "somewhat hampered" by the fire, the team was ready to go racing.

Gillan said: "The effect of the fire was mitigated by what can only be described as a Herculean effort by the factory and our suppliers to restock both the damaged equipment and car parts.

"We would also like to thank the generous offers of help from the other teams, highlighting once more the excellent sportsmanship that exists in Formula 1 and high levels of cameraderie throughout the pits lane," he said.

Maldonado's win, from pole, in Barcelona was the first for Williams in nearly eight years and made him the fifth different winner in five races this season.

Senna and Maldonado have good records on Monaco's tight and twisty street track in the junior GP2 series and will be aiming for another solid points finish in the season's glamour race.

Maldonado said: "I'm full of confidence after my win at the last race so I'm going to Monaco with high hopes of getting another strong result for the team."
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