Esteban Gutierrez fastest in wet GP2 practice at Singapore

The Lotus of Esteban Gutierrez has ended practice ahead of this weekend’s GP2 finale fastest, in treacherously wet conditions around the tricky Marina Bay street circuit. The Mexican driver was followed by Fabio Leimer for Racing Engineering and the Rapax of Stefano Coletti, as the track times improved with each passing lap.

Prior to the beginning of the practice session, a huge rain storm swept the street circuit, providing the 26-car field with a daunting practice session. With the majority of the field new and inexperienced around the Marina Bay street circuit, trying to learn the track layout was of top priority up and down the paddock.

James Calado led the pack out of the pits as the session got underway, with light rain still falling upon the circuit. With the spray practically impenetrable along the straight, it was no surprise when Jake Rosenzweig became the first of many to make minor errors throughout the session. Calado set the initial pace with a 02:27.005, before Stephane Richelmi and Nathaniel Berthon went faster still.

As the rain began to ease and the drivers’ confidence rose, the times quickly began to tumble as the session progressed. Both Esteban Gutierrez and Johnny Cecotto jr. shared the top spot, before Luca Filippi once again showed his skill behind the wheel of a GP2 machine and went fastest with a 02:17.243. Stephane Richelmi became the next driver to spin, with numerous parts of the track still extremely wet. Johnny Cecotto jr. then stormed to the top of the timing sheets, with a 02:16.360.

As the session came to a conclusion, the Lotus duo of James Calado and Esteban Gutierrez wasted no time on asserting their authority over proceedings. After rising to the sharp end of the timing sheets, Stefano Coletti made minor errors on two separate occasions in his Rapax, as Calado went fastest with a 02:15.335. The Briton’s team-mate of Esteban Gutierrez then went faster still with a 02:14.339, whereas Championship contenders Davide Valsecchi and Luiz Razia ended the session only 14th and 20th respectively.

The GP2 drivers will return to the tricky Marina Bay street circuit later this afternoon, as they aim to qualify for tomorrow’s final feature race of the season. Davide Valsecchi is 25 points clear of Luiz Razia, and has the ability to become Champion in tomorrow morning’s race.

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