Marciello ends GP2 debut fastest after day one of post-season test

Reigning FIA Formula 3 Euro Series Champion Raffaele Marciello has ended the opening day of the GP2 post-season test fastest around Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit, after making his first appearance in the Series with Trident Racing. Alexander Rossi topped the morning session for Caterham, ahead of Daniel Abt and Johnny Cecotto.

With the GP2 season now at a conclusion after yet another thrilling finale around the Yas Marina Circuit, the Series retook to the tricky 5.554km circuit to carry out their traditional post-season test. As per usual a combination of returnees and debutants got behind the wheel of the numerous machines for the opening day of the test, with Pirelli nominating the medium tyre compound for the three days of track action. Johnny Cecotto set the initial pace in the morning session with a 01:50.642, ahead of former Arden International team-mate Mitch Evans.

The morning session ran relatively incident-free, apart from a brief red flag delay when rookie Denis Nagulin stopped for Venezuela GP Lazarus. Once the Russian’s car had been retrieved by the marshals, Alexander Rossi proceeded to rise to the top of the timing sheets for Caterham. The American sensation took his maiden GP2 race victory around the Yas Marina Circuit last weekend, and looked on fine form once again as he managed to produce the first timed lap of the day below the 01:50s with a 01:49.958. During the final minutes of the session Daniel Abt slotted into 2nd position for Hilmer Motorsport, with Johnny Cecotto 3rd for Venezuela GP Lazarus.

Alexander Rossi ended the morning session fastest ahead of Daniel Abt and Johnny Cecotto.

After allowing the GP3 Series to take to the Yas Marina Circuit for their opening day of track action, the evening session began under the iconic floodlights. Monegasque driver Stephane Richelmi managed to set the initial benchmark for DAMS, before former GP3 driver Carlos Sainz rose to the top for MW Arden. The Spanish sensation remained at the top of the timing sheets for the majority of the evening session, with the likes of Stoffel Vandoorne, Will Stevens, Rene Binder and Daniel Abt all gradually lowering the gap at the front.

However, with only one hour remaining in the opening day of the test, rookie Raffaele Marciello stormed to the top for Trident Racing with an impressive 01:49.811. Shortly after rising to the top for the Italian outfit, the second red flag delay of the day occurred when Alexander Rossi was forced to come to a halt out on the circuit after picking up a puncture due to a flat-spot. Despite the session being resumed for a short period before the conclusion, Raffaele Marciello managed to remain fastest ahead of Carlos Sainz and Daniel Abt with Johnny Cecotto 4th.

The GP2 fraternity will return to the Yas Marina Circuit tomorrow for the second day of track action, with numerous driver changes scheduled to ripple throughout the paddock. Jolyon Palmer will join Stephane Richelmi at DAMS, Sam Bird will return to GP2 to replace the still-injured Tom Dillmann at Russian Time whilst reigning British Formula Three Champion Jordan King will make his GP2 debut at Barwa Addax.

Morning times

Pos Driver                  Team                  Time       Laps
 1. Alexander Rossi         Caterham              1m49.958s  22
 2. Daniel Abt              Hilmer                1m50.608s  20
 3. Johnny Cecotto          Lazarus               1m50.643s  12
 4. Mitch Evans             Russian Time          1m50.722s  20
 5. Raffaele Marciello      Trident               1m50.812s  20
 6. Daniel De Jong          MP Motorsport         1m51.038s  15
 7. Nico Muller             Arden                 1m51.144s  23
 8. Stephane Richelmi       DAMS                  1m51.152s  20
 9. Will Stevens            MP Motorsport         1m51.210s  21
10. Rene Binder             Arden                 1m51.234s  25
11. Simon Trummer           Rapax                 1m51.515s  23
12. Carlos Sainz            Carlin                1m51.536s  20
13. Jazeman Jaafar          Carlin                1m51.620s  27
14. Julian Leal             Trident               1m51.627s  13
15. Andre Negrao            Hilmer                1m51.734s  21
16. Rio Haryanto            Racing Engineering    1m51.779s  24
17. Jolyon Palmer           Racing Engineering    1m51.966s  21
18. Rodolfo Gonzalez        Addax                 1m52.056s  13
19. Stoffel Vandoorne       ART                   1m52.357s  28
20. Arthur Pic              ART                   1m52.422s  28
21. Artem Markelov          Russian Time          1m52.763s  17
22. Sandy Stuvik            Rapax                 1m52.772s  20
23. Nikolay Martsenko       Addax                 1m53.419s  18
24. Denis Magulin           Lazarus               1m55.231s  20
25. Facu Regalia            Caterham              no time     1

Afternoon times

Pos Driver                  Team                  Time       Laps
 1. Raffaele Marciello      Trident               1m49.811s  17
 2. Carlos Sainz            Carlin                1m49.967s  28
 3. Daniel Abt              Hilmer                1m50.120s  25
 4. Johnny Cecotto          Lazarus               1m50.206s  19
 5. Jolyon Palmer           Racing Engineering    1m50.238s  28
 6. Mitch Evans             Russian Time          1m50.279s  22
 7. Rene Binder             Arden                 1m50.291s  22
 8. Will Stevens            MP Motorsport         1m50.392s  26
 9. Andre Negrao            Hilmer                1m50.411s  26
10. Facu Regalia            Caterham              1m50.525s  29
11. Stoffel Vandoorne       ART                   1m50.538s  23
12. Arthur Pic              ART                   1m50.547s  26
13. Simon Trummer           Rapax                 1m50.610s  27
14. Julian Leal             Trident               1m50.631s  26
15. Nicol Muller            Arden                 1m50.634s  20
16. Rio Haryanto            Racing Engineering    1m50.712s  24
17. Stephane Richelmi       DAMS                  1m50.791s  27
18. Artem Markelov          Russian Time          1m50.900s  25
19. Rodolfo Gonzalez        Addax                 1m50.993s  25
20. Daniel De Jong          MP Motorsport         1m51.106s  22
21. Jazeman Jaafar          Carlin                1m51.261s  22
22. Nikolay Martsenko       Addax                 1m51.339s  30
23. Sandy Stuvik            Rapax                 1m51.343s  24
24. Alexander Rossi         Caterham              1m52.006s  35
25. Denis Nagulin           Lazarus               1m53.510s  24

Picture(s) Copyright © Sam Bloxham & Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service