08/10/2008
NEWS STORY
Kamui Kobayashi topped the timesheets on the first day of testing for the GP2 Asia Series' second season at Shanghai today.
Next weekend marks the opening of the second GP2 Asia Series Championship in Shanghai. Prior to this event, the thirteen teams gathered at the Chinese track for a two-day test session. It was a first for many of the drivers at the 5.451km circuit.
Kamui Kobayashi topped the sheets in both the morning and afternoon sessions, setting the pace with a 1:45.963. His countryman Sakon Yamamoto, at the wheel of his ART Grand Prix car, was second fastest with a 1:46.255 ahead of Spaniard Roldan Rodriguez of Piquet GP. The second Dams driver, Belgian Jerome d'Ambrosio, set the fourth fastest lap time.
Giedo Van der Garde of GFH Team iSport was today's quickest rookie with a 1:46.599, ahead of Andreas Zuber, Durango's Davide Valsecchi, rookie James Jakes at the wheel of Super Nova and Vitaly Petrov (Campos). Rookie Mika Maki completed the Top 10 in the second Super Nova Car.
This morning's session was interrupted by many red flags including one that lasted for almost 50 minutes after oil was deposited on numerous parts of the track following a minor mechanical failure on Andreas Zuber's Piquet car. Consequently, the session was extended until 12:45pm.