24/10/2009
NEWS STORY
The Yas Marina Circuit hosted the final GP2 Asia pre-season test session today. Luca Filippi continues to put pressure on his rivals. Quickest man yesterday, the Italian set the pace again today with a an impressive 1:51.415.
The level of grip improved drastically from yesterday and lap-times dropped this morning compared to yesterday's afternoon session although the temperature was higher. Davide Valsecchi (iSport) chose to do a race simulation in order to test the car at the same time as next week's race will take place. The Italian showed great pace, setting the quickest lap-time with a 1:52.355, eight tenths clear from rookie Sam Bird (ART). Luiz Razia (Barwa Addax) completed the top three ahead of another impressive rookie, Joseph Kral (Super Nova). Filippi's teammate Diego Nunes posted the fifth fastest lap-time ahead of Trident's Johnny Cecotto while three other rookies - Max Chilton (Barwa Addax), Pablo Sanchez (Arden) and Fabio Leimer (Ocean Racing) finished in the top ten with Michael Herck (DPR) finishing in ninth place.
In the afternoon, the session started again at 4pm local time and ended under the spotlights of the track. In the closing stages of the session as the drivers all pushed for best time, Filippi clocked his fastest lap time of the day, improving his personal best by one second and four tenths quicker than yesterday evening. Already second quickest in Day 1, Rodriguez was edged out of the top of the timing sheet by Filippi just seconds away from the chequered flag while Davide Valsecchi, who finished his programme earlier than most and stayed at the top for most of the session, rounded up the Top 3.
In fourth, Swiss Fabio Leimer at Ocean Racing Technology left a good impression and earned the title of best rookie of the day while Nunes also announced Meritus' ambitions for this new season with a fifth quickest lap time. Rodolfo Gonzalez at Arden followed ahead of rookie Christian Vietoris (DAMS), Kral, Marcus Ericsson (ART) and Herck completed the top 10.
This concludes the two-day pre-season test. The third season of the GP2 Asia Series kicks off next Friday, October 30th with Free Practice at 10:30am local time.