Brits on Pole

GP2 Asia: Drivers test at Yas Marina

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By LJ Hutchins

Monday, October 26th, 2009

 

This season’s GP2 Asia drivers have been getting a sneak preview of Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina circuit as they tested this week ahead of the season’s first event as a support race for the F1 season finale.

On Tuesday Meritus’ Luca Filippi, a veteran of the main series, topped the timesheets with a fastest time of 1:52.842. Behind him were the similarly-experienced Roldan Rodriguez and Diego Nunes.

Sam Bird, testing for ART, topped the Brits with a time of 1:53.572 in the faster afternoon session, enough to win him sixth place overall. Behind him was Max Chilton for Barwa Addax in 10th place on 1:54.022 and Will Bratt for Scuderia Coloni in 11th on 1:54.060. James Jakes for Super Nova was 19th in a field of 22 with a time of 1:55.714.

On Wednesday Filippi and Rodriguez were once again at the top of the timesheets, with a strong challenge from Davide Valsecci.

Among the Brits Bird came second overall in the morning session but was beaten back to 12th in the afternoon. His fastest lap of the day was 1:52.478. Chilton was seventh in the morning and 19th in the afternoon with a fastest time of 1:52.998.

Jakes was 20th in the morning but got himself up to 14th in the afternoon with a hot lap of 1:52.567. And Bratt was 21st in the morning and 20th in the afternoon courtesy of his fastest time of 1:53.001.

The fifth British driver in the series, Oliver Turvey, did not take part in the test thanks to a clash with his World Series by Renault meeting in Spain.

Related posts:

• GP2: Bumper crop of Brits shine in Ricard testing
• GP2: Jerez testing round-up, days two and three
• GP2 Asia: Valsecchi and Vietoris take first wins of season
• GP2 Asia: Filippi and Ricci take final wins of season
• GP2: Valsecchi fastest as Asia-bound Jakes joins test

Read more about GP2 Asia, James Jakes, Max Chilton, Oliver Turvey, Sam Bird, Will Bratt.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 2:12 pm and is filed under GP2. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Author: LJ Hutchins. Supports McLaren, kind of. Thinks James May gets a rough deal off the other two. Drives a Subaru Impreza but regrets its lack of bright blue paint and gold wheels. Is very nearly old enough to know better but probably never will. Is a supporter member of the BWRDC. LJ has written 1117 articles for us.