BIC, Al Sakhir: Nobuharu Matsushita topped the timesheet on day two of the GP2 Series’ pre-season testing at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir on Thursday.
The Japanese rookie made a late push in new tyres to rocket to first place with only a few minutes remaining in the afternoon session.
Matsushita had a fastest lap of 1min 40.191secs which was close to two-tenths-of-a-second quicker than his closest rival.
He was the best on an eventful day in the desert racing facility. After the circuit was bombarded overnight by a massive sandstorm, BIC crews managed to clean the track enough to allow testing to begin after a slight delay.
The testers were naturally much quicker in the afternoon, and Matsushita made the most of his opportunity to show his pace in his ART Grand Prix challenger.
Frenchman Arthur Pic of Campos Racing was second-fastest for the day after finishing 0.159secs behind.
Italian Raffaele Marciello of Trident Racing finished third 0.255secs off the pace, while Russian Sergey Sirotkin of RAPAX was fourth 0.370secs back.
Dane Marco Sorensen (+0.467secs) of Carlin ended the day fifth on the timesheet. Matsushita’s Belgian teammate Stoffel Vandoorne (+0.475secs) was sixth, while the MP Motorsport pairing of Daniel De Jong (+0.736secs) from the Netherlands and Sergio Canamasas (+0.767secs) from Spain rounded out the top eight.
Most of the day’s quickest times were set as things were about to wrap up, and the day’s overall top 14 of the 26 testers were all within a second of one another.
Sirotkin led the way during the morning session with a best lap of 1min 41.797secs. Racing Engineering’s British driver Jordan King, who set the overall pace on day one, finished second. Compatriot Alex Lynn of DAMS was third-quickest.
All 26 GP2 drivers were out on the track on Thursday for testing. They will be back for a third and final day on Friday, April 3.
The teams are scheduled be in action from 9am to 12noon in the morning, and then again from 1pm to 4pm in the afternoon.
The tests at BIC are the second of the pre-season for GP2. They had earlier tested in Abu Dhabi last month, and a majority of the field is back for some more time in their challengers.
The GP2 Series is gearing up for the start of its 2015 season, which will also be held in Bahrain later this month in support of this year’s Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.
There are 10 rounds for the 2015 GP2 season. Each event will be supporting a Formula One Grand Prix.
GP2 is highly regarded as the chief feeder series to Formula One.
More than 60 drivers have over the years received the chance to drive a Formula One car as a result of their time in GP2. Eight drivers from this season’s Formula One grid are GP2 graduates, including five former GP2 champions in Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Nico Hulkenberg, Pastor Maldonado and Romain Grosjean.
Tickets to the Bahrain Grand Prix are selling fast and race fans are advised to purchase theirs today to avoid any disappointment. Tickets can be purchased at the BIC sales outlets in Bahrain City Centre and Seef Mall, online at www.bahraingp.com or by calling the BIC Hotline on +973-17-450000.
The 2015 Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix is the fourth round of this year’s FIA Formula One World Championship. The big night race will be complemented by plenty of fun family entertainment off the track.