Valsecchi Returns To Winning Ways With Sprint Race Victory At Monza

Local hero Davide Valsecchi has returned to the top step of the podium for the first time since Bahrain at the beginning of the season, as the Italian driver dominated a flawless lights to flag victory ahead of the Racing Engineering of Luiz Razia. British driver Jolyon Palmer was able to finish 3rd, after a frenetic closing lap at Monza.

At the start, Davide Valsecchi enjoyed a fabulous getaway as the DAMS driver stormed into the lead of the race. Marcus Ericsson was lucky to avoid contact through turn 1, as the Swedish driver completely missed his braking point and flew across the grass, cutting the final corner. Ericsson adhered to the rules and naturally gave the positions he gained back, as Davide Valsecchi set to opening up a gap to Fabio Leimer in 2nd.

Fabio Onidi’s race ended on the second lap, as the Italian driver missed his braking point for turn 1, and slammed into the unsuspecting Ocean Racing Technology of Nigel Melker. The two drivers joined the second Ocean Racing Technology of Victor Guerin in retirement, before the Lotus of Esteban Gutierrez became the fourth retirement after running wide at turn 11 and skipping across the gravel into the barriers.

GP2 returnee and feature race winner Luca Filippi endured a frustrating sprint race, as the Italian driver was forced to pit on lap 6. After the Coloni mechanics changed Filippi’s tyres, the Italian driver then stalled the engine and therefore lost further valuable track positions. Whilst Filippi fumbled at the steering wheel in the pits, fellow countryman Davide Valsecchi was beginning to open a gap over Fabio Leimer in 2nd.

As the race entered it’s closing stages, tyre wear and an urge to finish further up the field created the usual freneticism which the GP2 Series has become renowned for throughout the motor sport fraternity. Stefano Coletti ran wide at turn 1, thus falling down the order and allowing Johnny Cecotto jr. to have a chance at overtaking Max Chilton. The Venezuelan driver completed the overtake through turns 4 and 5, with Chilton just lightly damaging front wing in the process.

The iSport International duo of Jolyon Palmer and Marcus Ericsson became locked in a grueling battle for 3rd, with the two team-mates almost colliding through turn 1. Luckily for iSport, both Palmer and Ericsson ran wide at turn 1, instead of prematurely ending each others race. With the two team-mates jostling for position, this enabled Stefano Coletti to close up on the rear of Ericsson’s car, and eventually the Italian driver found a way around the Swede through turn 1 for 4th.

Julian Leal was battling for position with Sergio Canamasas further down the order, with the latter striving for his first points finish of the season. In a desperate attempt to keep the Spaniard at bay, Julian Leal ran wide at turns 4 and 5, bouncing dangerously over the kerbing and launching his Trident Racing car into the air. The Colombian driver bounced back to earth with a bump, but was miraculously still ahead of Canamasas.

As the last lap of the race drew to a conclusion, the battle for the final podium position gathered extreme momentum, as Stefano Coletti, Jolyon Palmer, Johnny Cecotto jr., and Max Chilton all jostled for position. As the pack negotiated the final corner, it was the iSport International of Jolyon Palmer who emerged top, finishing 3rd behind Fabio Leimer and eventual race winner Davide Valsecchi.

This was the Italian driver’s first victory since Bahrain at the beginning of the season, and has enabled Valsecchi to open up a 25 point lead in the Drivers’ Championship over the Arden International of Luiz Razia. As the GP2 Series now prepares to head to the Marina Bay Street Circuit for the season finale in Singapore, Luiz Razia will be in desperate need of a competitive and trouble free weekend if he has any wishes of clinching the 2012 GP2 Series Drivers’ Championship.

Results - 21 laps:

Pos  Driver               Team                   Time/Gap
 1.  Davide Valsecchi     DAMS                 33m06.731s
 2.  Fabio Leimer         Racing Engineering     + 0.444s
 3.  Jolyon Palmer        iSport                 + 7.873s
 4.  Stefano Coletti      Rapax                 + 10.787s
 5.  Johnny Cecotto Jr    Addax                 + 10.953s
 6.  Max Chilton          Carlin                + 11.418s
 7.  Marcus Ericsson      iSport                + 11.606s
 8.  Julian Leal          Trident               + 12.661s
 9.  Stephane Richelmi    Trident               + 13.383s
10.  Giedo van der Garde  Caterham              + 14.540s
11.  Sergio Canamasas     Lazarus               + 15.013s
12.  Rio Haryanto         Carlin                + 15.711s
13.  Rene Binder          Lazarus               + 15.934s
14.  James Calado         Lotus                 + 16.667s
15.  Nathanael Berthon    Racing Engineering    + 20.179s
16.  Luiz Razia           Arden                 + 20.484s
17.  Simon Trummer        Arden                 + 25.436s
18.  Ricardo Teixeira     Rapax                 + 29.051s
19.  Jake Rosenzweig      Addax                 + 30.292s
20.  Rodolfo Gonzalez     Caterham              + 34.034s
21.  Felipe Nasr          DAMS                + 1m14.092s
22.  Luca Filippi         Coloni              + 1m26.253s

Retirements:

     Esteban Gutierrez    Lotus                     1 lap
     Nigel Melker         Ocean                     1 lap
     Fabio Onidi          Coloni                    1 lap
     Victor Guerin        Ocean                     1 lap

Picture Copyright © Daniel Kalisz/GP2 Series Media Service

Esteban Gutierrez Wins Shortened GP2 Feature Race

Esteban Gutierrez has won a shortened GP2 feature race around a wet and slippery Silverstone, ahead of Johnny Cecotto jr. and local star Jolyon Palmer. The race initially started under the safety car, however after 7 laps the race was eventually green flagged as the drivers negotiated the tricky conditions.

After the lengthy delay in the Formula 1 qualifying, the GP2 feature race started later than scheduled and behind the safety car, with the Silverstone circuit still treacherously wet after the inclement weather of the previous few hours. However, even starting under the safety car failed to deter the drivers from coming together, as Daniël de Jong slammed into the rear of Rodolfo Gonzalez along the Old Pit Straight.

As de Jong retired from the race, it was announced that the safety car would come in towards the end of the next lap. Once the field finally took to green flag conditions, spray became the next big issue for the drivers a visibility was exceedingly poor. Several drivers including Championship leader Davide Valsecchi pitted for fresher wet tyres.

Stefano Coletti came to a momentary halt out on track around turn 4, as the Italian’s car suddenly slowed to a walking pace. The Italian driver skipped through the water-logged grass only moments before, most likely contributing to the loss of pace. However, the Scuderia Coloni driver managed to pick up the pace and return to racing speeds.

As the race continued, some drivers began opting to pit for fresher rubber, including local favorites James Calado and Jolyon Palmer. However, Calado stopped just after turn 1 only moments after his pit stop, with the Briton most likely suffering from a loose wheel. This brought out the safety car once again, with the rest of the field opting to make their pit-stops shortly after. Amazingly, race leader Fabio Leimer didn’t pit, a move which the Swiss driver would greatly regret later on in the race.

Marcus Ericsson and Stefano Coletti unbelievably switched to slick tyres during their stops, which subsequently lead to a further safety car period once the race was momentarily resumed for only one lap. Coletti lost control of his car at turn 14, with the majority of the track still wet after the previous rainfall.

As the safety car yet again returned to the track, Fabio Leimer made his inevitable stop thus handing down the lead to Esteban Gutierrez. This final safety car period lasted only one lap, before the race returned to green flag conditions once again. Due to the many delays, the race had become a timed event, and when the time ran out it was Mexican driver Esteban Gutierrez who crossed the line to take his second feature race victory in succession, ahead of Cecotto jr. and Palmer.

Tomorrow’s sprint race could once again be run in similar conditions to today, as Dutchman Giedo van der Garde lines up in the reverse grid pole for Caterham. Luiz Razia took the sprint race victory last time out in Valencia, in a thrilling final few laps.

Picture Copyright © Jakob Ebrey/GP2 series Media Service

Fabio Leimer Secures Pole For GP2 Feature Race

Fabio Leimer will start tomorrow’s GP2 feature race from pole position, after the Swiss driver ended qualifying fastest ahead of Johnny Cecotto jr. and Jolyon Palmer in yet another wet session at Silverstone. The rain continued to fall throughout the session, as the drivers tried their hardest to keep their cars pointing in the right direction.

World Championship leader Davide Valsecchi led out the pack as the session got underway, with the traditional queue of drivers lining up eager to start their qualifying surges. The DAMS driver also set the initial pace of the session, with a 02:09.167. However, the times quickly began to tumble as more and more drivers amazingly got to grips with the immensely tricky track conditions.

In typical GP2 qualifying tradition, many drivers shared the top spot as the times got gradually quicker. Both Esteban Gutierrez, Fabio Leimer and Davide Valsecchi went quickest, with the Racing Engineering of Leimer finally rising to the top once again with a 02:02.058. The 23-year-old continued to improve on his already blistering pace in the wet, setting a further 02:01.889 as the session wore on.

Marcus Ericsson and Johnny Cecotto jr. brought out the one and only red flag delay of the session, as the two drivers both stopped on track with separate issues. Ericsson stopped down the Hangar Straight whereas Cecotto jr. limped back to the pits. The session resumed shortly afterwards, as yet another long queue of drivers led by Esteban Gutierrez streamed back on to the track.

As the session came to a close, no-one could better the time already set by Fabio Leimer as the rain continued to fall at Silverstone. Davide Valsecchi stopped on track towards the end of the lap, as did his team-mate Felipe Nasr down the Wellington Straight. With yellow flags waving frantically around the circuit, it became impossible for any driver to improve on their times. This cemented Fabio Leimer’s maiden pole-position for tomorrow’s GP2 feature race, which is expected to be drier than today’s proceedings. As ever in GP2, the grid for Sunday’s sprint race will be determined by a reversal of the top eight after the feature race.

Picture Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service

Jolyon Palmer Wins First GP2 Race In Monaco

Jolyon Palmer has taken his maiden GP2 victory in Monaco, as the British driver dodged the carnage that ensued behind him. Fellow countryman Max Chilton came home 2nd, with Giedo van der Garde a consistent 3rd for Caterham. 

There was total carnage on the opening lap, as two separate incidents were caused, one at turn 1 and another up the hill through turn 2 and towards turn 3. Local star Stephane Richelmi started on pole, however heading into turn 1 the Monegasque driver made contact with James Calado and unfortunately retired from the race. Championship leader Davide Valsecchi suffered a slow getaway at the start, and was subsequently involved in the second much bigger incident up the hill.

The incident was triggered by Johnny Cecotto jr., who spun his Barwa Addax car causing a concertina-effect as the majority of the field stamped on the brakes. Felipe Nasr was seen almost flying over the top of a car, as Davide Valsecchi, Tom Dillmann, Victor Guerin, Ricardo Teixeira and Fabio Onidi all retired in the mayhem. With the track blocked by the many stricken cars, the safety car was deployed for the first time this weekend as the marshals set to clearing up the mess.

The Monaco marshals once again completed a stunning job in clearing the track, as the safety car returned to the pits as the race resumed on lap 4. Across the line Jolyon Palmer lead from fellow countrymen James Calado and Max Chilton. The Lotus of Calado, however, was later shown the black and orange flag after sustaining front wing damage due to the incident with Stephane Richelmi. On lap 10, Calado succumbed to the damage on his car, and eventually pitted for a new front wing. 

As the halfway point in the race approached, the number of cars still running in the race began to dwindle as Fabio Leimer and Julian Leal retired from the race. Leimer had made contact with the barrier through the swimming pool section, thus damaging his car whereas Leal had retired due to mechanical issues. James Calado also retired from the race on lap 22, as the British driver returned to the pits for a second time.

With Palmer dominating out in front, Max Chilton began to reel in the iSport International driver. However, it was all too late for Chilton to have a sniff at victory, as Palmer crossed the line to take his maiden GP2 victory around the streets of the Principality.

Picture Copyright © Andrew Ferraro/GP2 Media Service

Luiz Razia Dominates GP2 Sprint Race In Spain

Luiz Razia has won his second GP2 race of the season in dominating fashion, completing a lights to finish victory at the front. The Brazilian driver was followed home in 2nd by Nathaneal Berton, with Championship leader Davide Valsecchi holding off a charging James Calado for the final podium position.

After a delayed start due to Jolyon Palmer stalling halfway around the initial formation lap, Luiz Razia stormed away at the front as alongside him Max Chilton suffered a disastrous getaway which saw the Brit drop to 4th. Davide Valsecchi completed belter of a start, jumping up around the outside of the pack into turn 1 up to 3rd place, battling hard with Berthon in 2nd.

With many drivers’ in the GP3 Series getting penalized for jump starts in both the feature and sprint races, the GP2 Series was no exception today as rookie Victor Guerin was caught jumping the start and was subsequently issued a drive-through penalty.

After setting the fastest lap of the race at the back of the pack, Giancarlo Serenelli’s race was short-lived as the Venezuelan driver spun his Venezuela GP Lazarus car into the gravel at turn 4. This caused yellow flags to be waved as the marshals retrieved the stricken car, whereas elsewhere on the track James Calado began his race charge as he stormed up the inside of fellow countryman Max Chilton for 4th.

In the midfield, the usual jostling for position was well and truly underway, with Fabio Onidi and Nigel Melker unfortunately coming together through turn 12. Onidi was busy trying to defend against Johnny Cecotto jr., when the Coloni driver lost the rear end and collected the unlucky Dutchman of Melker. Both were able to continue after the incident, albeit well down the order. Nigel Melker was forced to pit for a new front wing, after Onidi’s car caused damage to the Ocean Racing Technology car.

With Jolyon Palmer’s race ending prematurely on the formation lap, iSport International’s race failed to improve as Marcus Ericsson was handed a drive-through penalty for ignoring yellow flags. This resulted in the Swede eventually finishing the race a lowly 22nd.

As the race entered it’s closing stages, Luiz Razia began to open up a considerable gap to Nathanael Berthon, as Davide Valsecchi came under serious pressure from James Calado. However, as much as the Brit tried to force the issue on Valsecchi, the top three remained the same as Luiz Razia crossed the line to take his third career GP2 victory.

Picture Copyright © Glenn Dunbar/GP2 Series Media Service

Davide Valsecchi Secures Pole For Opening GP2 Race

After a only a 30 minute practice session for the GP2 drivers’, they were thrown into the deep end with the all important qualifying session for race 1 of the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend. After a quick firing practice session, Jolyon Palmer was the one to watch after setting the fastest time in practice.

As the session turned green Johnny Cecotto jr. led out the majority of the field as they all seemed eager to getting times on the leader-board. With rain threatening the second practice session in Formula 1, the same threat was hovering over GP2 during qualifying.

The times instantly began to tumble as the drivers’ began setting timed laps, as Jon Lancaster, Esteban Gutierrez, Johnny Cecotto jr., and Davide Valsecchi all fired in fast lap times in quick succession. Rodolfo Gonzalez ran wide at turn 11 as the Venezuelan driver struggled to get a quick time set.

After a frenetic opening few minutes of qualifying, the track action died down slightly as the majority of the field returned to the pits to refuel, change tyres and prepare for further qualifying laps.

The Arden International driver of Luiz Razia went 2nd, almost getting blocked by the Venezuela GP Lazarus driver of Fabrizio Crestani, who was also pushing hard on a flying lap. With 26 cars on the track, blocking was inevitable, however the race stewards have confirmed they will investigate suspected blocking between Rodolfo Gonzalez and Stefano Coletti after the session.

As the session came to an end, Fabrizio Crestani ended a rigorous qualifying session stopping on track. This in turn brought out the yellow flags which ended anyone’s hopes of beating Valsecchi’s time.

Tomorrow sees race 1 take place, with the grid for race 2 on Sunday decided with the results of race 1. The top eight will then be reversed in traditional GP2 fashion for race 2. 

Picture Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service

Palmer Quickest In GP2 Practice In Malaysia

For the first time since 2008 when GP2 Asia came to Malaysia, the GP2 fraternity will support the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix. With fellow feeder series GP3 set to continue for it’s third year in May, GP2 enters it’s eighth season as the feeder series to Formula 1. 

With practice 1 for Formula 1 only just ending, there was barely enough time to catch your breath before the GP2 cars lined up in the pit-lane eager to get their season underway. First out was Johnny Cecotto jr. for Barwa Addax, as the rest of the field followed the Venezuelan driver out.

As GP3 graduate James Calado set the first timed lap of the day, Sauber’s test driver Esteban Gutierrez collided with Johnny Cecotto jr. on the exit of turn 9. This collision ruined Gutierrez’s session, as the Mexican stopped on track after only completing 4 laps.

After a relatively successful pre-season of testing, Davide Valsecchi then went fastest with a 01:47.005. Valsecchi is now considered a veteran of the sport, as the Italian driver enters his sixth season in GP2 having won only three races in his career so far.

With only 30 minutes of practice time, the track was constantly busy throughout the session as the drivers’ got to grips with the Sepang International Circuit. As the session wore on, Jolyon Palmer went quickest for iSport International with a 01:46.514. This time was the first set on the medium tyre compound, as Palmer remained the only driver to use that particular compound all session. Valsecchi was able to improve on his time, but remained 2nd +0.164 seconds off Palmer’s pace.

As the checkered flag came out signaling the end of the session, Johnny Cecotto jr. ended a miserable session spinning his car at turn 14. The spin brought out yellow flags, which subsequently ended any drivers’ chances of setting a faster time than Palmer.

Qualifying will take place after the second F1 practice session, and could well be rain affected as stormy clouds build up around the circuit. If this is the case, expect the battle for pole in race 1 to be a complete lottery as 26 drivers’ take to the track.

Picture Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service