GP2 Asia : Preview of Abu Dhabi 2

The third season of the GP2 Asia Series opened last November at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi as part of the country’s first ever Formula One Grand Prix. The GP2 Asia Series had the honour of being the first racing cars to run at the new circuit for a pre-season test a week prior to the race weekend, and it was a chance for everyone to learn the long layout, test the lighting system and begin to put a little pressure on their rivals.

Although Luca Filippi and MalaysiaQI¬Meritus.com set the pace on both days, it was iSport’s Davide Valsecchi who ended up shining during the entire race weekend: quickest in free practice, the young Italian later signed pole position before winning in the feature race setting fastest lap and scoring a perfect thirteen points.

In the sprint race, Valsecchi was once again relentless: starting eighth on the reverse grid, he put his head down and pushed his way through the field to finish second, adding another 6 points to his total. Behind him, the experienced Filippi kept younger guns at bay in the feature race but had to yield the following day when rookies Christian Vietoris and Josef Kral, respectively at Dams and Super Nova, proved their worth and talent with the German sailing to victory on his first GP2 weekend and the Czech snatching his first podium.

This week, the GP2 Asia paddock returns to Abu Dhabi for the second round of the season with a new and exciting challenge: racing at twilight. On this occasion, five new drivers join the field. Some faces are well-known to the GP2 world with race winners Addax’s Giedo van der Garde and Sergio Perez, and Coloni’s Alberto Valerio along podium finisher Dani Clos at Trident Racing. The fifth newcomer will be a rookie as Jules Bianchi will take the wheel of the ART Grand Prix car.

With nineteen points scored so far, Valsecchi is leading the drivers’ standings, 10 points ahead of Vietoris who leads both Filippi and Kral by one. The battle is on...