at the chequered flag

The  young  Kiwi  from  Meritus  was  quickest  by  1/1000th  today  during  Free  Practice  of the second round of the GP2 Asia Series in Dubai.

On a windy track, rookie Earl Bamber has taken the top spot in free practice today in Dubai in a 1:44.048,  just  1/1000th  ahead  of  Dam’s  Kamui  Kobayashi. 

After  snatching  his  first GP2 podium last October in the opening of the second season of the GP2 Asia Series in China, the impressive young driver from MY Qi-Meritus.Mahara proves once again that he is a man to watch.

Behind  the  two  fastest  men,  Davide  Valsecchi  at  Durango  also  confirms  he  is  on  top  form  by signing  the  third  quickest  laptime  ahead  of  Dams  second  car  with  d’Ambrosio  and  newcomer Pastor Maldonado at the wheel of the ART Grand Prix car.

The Venezuelan’s teammate, Sakon Yamamoto,  quickly  followed  ahead  of  another  impressive  rookie,  Sergio  Perez.  The  young Mexican from Campos was already competitive in China. The new Ocean Racing Technology team seemed to adjust rather quickly to the GP2/07 car with Yelmer Buurman finishing 8th of the session, just ahead of the leader of the Championship Roldan Rodriguez at Piquet GP. Vitaly Petrov on the second Campos car competed the top 10. The qualifying session will start at 4:40pm today, local time.

Dubai – Free Practice

Driver Team Time Laps

1. Earl Bamber MY Qi-Meritus.Mahara 1:44.048 14 2.

Kamui Kobayashi Dams 1:44.049 14

3. Davide Valsecchi Durango 1:44.148 13

4. Jérôme d’Ambrosio Dams 1:44.488 15 5.

Pastor Maldonado ART Grand Prix 1:44.565 13

6. Sakon Yamamoto ART Grand Prix 1:44.711 14

7. Sergio Perez Barwa Int. Campos Team 1:44.776 14

8. Yelmer Buurman Ocean Racing Team 1:44.782 13

9. Roldan Rodriguez Piquet GP 1:44.905 13

10. Vitaly Petrov Barwa Int. Campos Team 1:44.936 13

11. Javier Villa Super Nova Racing 1:45.300 14

12. Giedo Van der Garde iSport International 1:45.332 15

13. James Jakes Super Nova Racing 1:45.688 14

14. Andreas Zuber Fisichella Motor Sport Int. 1:45.815 14

15. Hamad Al Fardan iSport International 1:45.909 12

16. Michael Herck DPR 1:46.191 15

17. Luiz Razia Trust Team Arden 1:46.314 15

18. Giacomo Ricci DPR 1:46.315 14

19. Diego Nunes Piquet GP 1:46.342 14

20 Fabrizzio Crestani Ocean Racing Technology 1:46.975 14

21. Renger van der Zande Trust Team Arden 1:46.993 14

22. Alberto Valerio Trident Racing 1:47.856 14

23. Kevin Nai Chia Chen Fisichella Motor Sport Int. 1:50.600 12

24. Michael Dalle Selle Durango 1:50.821 13

25 Alex Yoong MY Qi-Meritus.Mahara 1:51.699 3

26 Chris van Der Drift Trident Racing 1:53.607 2