Stefano Coletti Holds Off Felipe Nasr To Secure Sprint Race Victory At Malaysia

Stefano Coletti held off the charging Carlin of Felipe Nasr to secure a sensational sprint race victory at Malaysia, after the Monegasque driver stormed through from 7th to dominate the thrilling 22-lap event. Reigning GP3 Champion Mitch Evans managed to finish an excellent 3rd, ahead of poleman Stephane Richelmi in 4th.

Prior to the start of the sprint race it was officially confirmed that Caterham’s Ma Qing Hua would not participate in the race after suffering from gastroenteritis throughout the weekend. This therefore only saw 25 cars take to the grid, however only 24 lined up after the formation lap after Jolyon Palmer stalled on the grid and was forced to start from the pits. At the start, Stefano Coletti enjoyed a sensational getaway and stormed into the lead around the outside of Stephane Richelmi at Turn 2. Further back down the order Kevin Ceccon stalled on the grid, however the Italian driver was able to return to the track a lap down a little later.

As the pack jostled for position on the run down to Turn 4, James Calado struck the rear of Fabio Leimer’s car, thus damaging his front wing. The Briton then ran straight across the grass and T-boned Leimer’s Racing Engineering team-mate of Julian Leal and the Russian Time of Sam Bird. Naturally all three cars were forced into retirement, with Sam Bird eventually coming to a frustrating halt towards the end of the opening lap.

For the majority of the early stages of the race, Stefano Coletti controlled proceedings at the front roughly two seconds ahead of Felipe Nasr in the Carlin with Stephane Richelmi in 3rd. As the race began to draw to a conclusion, Pirelli’s tyres began to fade on all of the cars, therefore creating the usual excitement throughout the final laps. Nathaniel Berthon was forced to pit on Lap 14 due to extreme wear on his tyres, however the Frenchman then proceeded to set the fastest lap of the race on his new set of tyres. Further up the order saw Stephane Richelmi heavily out-brake himself into Turn 15, allowing Mitch Evans storm up the inside and into 3rd position.

After storming to a sensational victory during the feature race, Fabio Leimer’s sprint race went from bad to worse on Lap 17 when Swiss driver ran extensively wide at Turn 11. This saw him return back onto the track right into a battle between Jolyon Palmer and Tom Dillmann. As the trio jostled for position throughout the remainder of the lap, Marcus Ericsson, Adrian Quaife-Hobbs and Sergio Canamasas all fought relentlessly behind them as the laps continued to tick away.

As the leading duo began Lap 19, Felipe Nasr gradually began to reel in Stefano Coletti, despite the Monegasque ace having led the entire race. Further behind the leading duo, Fabio Leimer and Tom Dillmann made minor contact through Turn 2, as they continued to jostle for 11th position. Despite his late surge for the lead, Felipe Nasr was unable to catch and overtake Stefano Coletti for the lead, as the Rapax driver crossed the line to take his third race victory in GP2. Felipe Nasr was forced to settle for 2nd position, as Mitch Evans finished an amazing 3rd in only his second outing in the Series.

This victory for Stefano Coletti has seen him take the lead in the Drivers’ Championship, after a weekend a mature driving from the 23-year-old Rapax driver. The GP2 paddock will reconvene in several weeks time for the second round of the season at Sakhir for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Picture Copyright © Glenn Dunbar/GP2 Series Media Service