No rest for the wicked

Following an eventful opener in Abu Dhabi last weekend, the 2011 GP2 Asia Series resumes this week for Round 2 at Bahrain International Circuit on the 5.412 km layout.

The teams packed up quickly after the second race at Yas Marina Circuit to be ready for more action in Sakhir, with the practice session starting this Thursday at 11am.

Lotus ART’s Jules Bianchi arrives as the Series’ leader two points ahead of fellow countryman Dams’ Romain Grosjean. The two French drivers provided a good show at Yas Marina Circuit, Grosjean snatching pole position and Bianchi beating him at the lights in Race 1.

Reigning GP2 Asia Series Champion Davide Valsecchi remains a strong contender to this season’s crown: scoring a podium finish for his new team Team AirAsia, the Italian showed good pace and consistency from the word go. The Sprint race saw GP3 Series graduate Stefano Coletti taking a superb lights to flag first GP2 win ahead of Josef Kral and Marcus Ericsson.

In the teams’ standings, Lotus ART leads iSport International and Dams. The British squad and reigning Champions iSport could have been leading the Series after Abu Dhabi Sprint Race had Sam Bird kept his podium finish, but in the final laps, he unfortunately lost control of his car and had to retire before the chequered flag. However, his pace and experience puts him on the men-to-beat list this week in Bahrain, along with teammate Marcus Ericsson, Coletti and Kral at Arden.