23/04/2009
NEWS STORY
This weekend, the 08-09 GP2 Asia Championship comes to an end at the Bahrain International Circuit and a new champion will be crowned
After a drama-filled weekend at the rain soaked Sepang International Circuit three weeks ago everything was left up in the air, but it all comes down to this: both titles will be decided this weekend in Bahrain.
Dams and Kamui Kobayashi (right) look as strong as ever, especially after a pole position and another podium were pocketed in Malaysia. The winner of the feature race in Bahrain last January during the third round of the Championship and then fastest man on track, the Japanese ace now seems to be cruising towards his first GP2 Asia crown, thirteen points ahead of Davide Valsecchi (left).
The Durango racer, however, worked hard to keep his title challenge afloat in Sepang, claiming five more points over the weekend. Starting from the reversed pole in the sprint race, Valsecchi could not stop a flying Vitaly Petrov and a daring Pastor Maldonado from overtaking him on a wet track, but the Italian is the only driver in the championship who has scored points at every race. Along with Vitaly Petrov - whose strong end to the season has put him third in the drivers' standings, and Shanghai pole-man and race winner Roldan Rodriguez, Davide Valsecchi will challenge Kamui Kobayashi for the title.
Coming into the final round Sergio Perez and Jérôme d'Ambrosio are also within reach of a top three position in the championship, and all have proven to be fierce competitors: with so much at stake the stage is set for a thrilling finale to the second season of the GP2 Asia Series.