22/01/2009
NEWS STORY
Championship leader Kamui Kobayashi (right) set the pace during free practice of the third round of the GP2 Asia Series in Bahrain today.
Two months after outshining his competitors in Dubai, Kobayashi has once again taken the top spot in Bahrain. The Japanese driver, who earlier this week tested the new Toyota TF109 F1 car in Portugal, set a fastest time half-a-second quicker than his closest rival. The other Dams car, with Jérôme d'Ambrosio at the wheel, set the third fastest time.
Rookie Nico Hülkenberg (ART Grand Prix) got his GP2 career off to a sensational start, despite being his first time at the Bahraini track, the young German posted the second fastest lap time, while GP2 Asia returnee Marco Bonanomi placed his Meritus.Mahara car in fourth on the timesheets ahead of another impressive rookie, Edoardo Mortara (Arden Motorsport).
Roldan Rodriguez and his teammate Diego Nunes followed in sixth and seventh, while James Jakes, Giedo Van der Garde and Javier Villa completed the top 10.
It was a difficult session for Davide Valsecchi and Earl Bamber, who finished 13th and 18th.