GP2 » Bahrain - Race result (2)

22 April 2012
Davide Valsecchi confirmed that he's in a different class in Bahrain, marching through from eighth on the grid to claim his second win of the weekend.
Another thrilling GP2 race at Bahrain saw Saturday's feature race winner Davide Valsecchi start eighth on the grid but rise irresistibly to the front, finally taking the lead from Esteban Gutierrez on the first corner of the final lap and then hanging on till the chequered flag for the win.

The DAMS driver had made up three spots on the first lap along after winning a duel for position with Luiz Razia, while Lotus GP's James Calado got a perfect start from fourth to nip through the middle of the front row to assume the early race lead into turn 1. Calado left his team mate Esteban Gutierrez tangling with Racing Engineering's Fabio Leimer for second place. Gutierrez won that encounter but than clashed with his own team mate when he made a play for the lead, which cost him a chunk of his front wing and allowed Leimer to get past each Lotus car in turn and take the lead for himself on lap 5.

Leimer looked set to take the race win but was hit by a late drive-thru penalty for failing to obey local waved yellow flags which put him back in 12th and gifted Gutierrez the lead. But after a quiet mid-race husbanding his tyres, Valsecchi now pounced into action and quickly dismissed Max Chilton and James Calado to charge down the race leader who was struggling on his very tired tyres, setting up that last lap move for victory.

DAMS' stunning form at Bahrain was underlined by Felipe Nasr's charge from dead last on the grid after a penalty for causing an accident with Johnny Cecotto Jr. on Saturday (which ultimately became a start from the pit lane after stalling at the end of the formation lap) to an astonishing sixth place by the end.

Race results

1. Davide Valsecchi DAMS 39m22.363s (22 laps)
2. Esteban Gutierrez Lotus GP + 0.399s
3. James Calado Lotus GP + 10.617s
4. Luiz Razia Arden + 12.463s
5. Max Chilton Carlin + 13.573s
6. Felipe Nasr DAMS + 15.414s
7. Jolyon Palmer iSport + 22.950s
8. Simon Trummer Arden + 30.425s
9. Giedo van der Garde Caterham Racing + 31.976s
10. Tom Dillmann Rapax + 32.545s
11. Dani Clos Addax + 32.632s
12. Fabio Leimer Racing Engineering + 32.856s
13. Ricardo Teixeira Rapax + 36.275s
14. Fabio Onidi Coloni + 36.477s
15. Rio Haryanto Carlin + 39.988s
16. Marcus Ericsson iSport + 40.386s
17. Julian Leal Trident Racing + 47.410s
18. Nigel Melker Ocean + 56.196s
19. Fabrizio Crestani Lazarus + 59.488s
20. Rodolfo Gonzalez Caterham Racing + 1m52.968s
21. Giancarlo Serenelli Lazarus + 1m53.295s
22. Johnny Cecotto Addax + 1 lap
23. Stefano Coletti Coloni + 2 laps

Retirements:

Nathanael Berthon Racing Engineering 15 laps
Brendon Hartley Ocean Racing 2 laps
Stephane Richelmi Trident Racing 0 laps

Tagged as: Bahrain , Esteban Gutierrez , Davide Valsecchi , luiz razia , Fabio Leimer , James Calado , dams , Felipe Nasr
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Related Pictures

Davide Valsecchi (ITA, Dams) celebrates his pole position during practice and qualifying for the GP2 feature race at Bahrain International Circuit in Bahrain. [World Copyright: Alastair Staley/GP2 Media Service.]
Felipe Nasr (BRA, Dams) during practice and qualifying for the GP2 feature race at Bahrain International Circuit in Bahrain. [World Copyright: Alastair Staley/GP2 Media Service.]
Esteban Gutierrez (MEX, Lotus GP) during practice and qualifying for the GP2 feature race at Bahrain International Circuit in Bahrain. [World Copyright: Alastair Staley/GP2 Media Service.]
Davide Valsecchi (ITA, Dams) during practice and qualifying for the GP2 feature race at Bahrain International Circuit in Bahrain. [World Copyright: Alastair Staley/GP2 Media Service.]
James Calado (GBR, ART Grand Prix) keeps cool before the Saturday feature race at Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir - April 20, 2013. (World Copyright: Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service.)
James Calado (GBR, ART Grand Prix) during Friday qualifying at Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir - April 19, 2013. (World Copyright: Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service.)
James Calado (GBR, ART Grand Prix) during Friday qualifying at Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir - April 19, 2013. (World Copyright: Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service.)
Marcus Ericsson (SWE, Dams) during Friday qualifying at Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir - April 19, 2013. (World Copyright: Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service.)
Marcus Ericsson (SWE, Dams) during Friday qualifying at Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir - April 19, 2013. (World Copyright: Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service.)
Marcus Ericsson (SWE, Dams) during Friday practice at Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir - April 19, 2013. (World Copyright: Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service.)
Fabio Leimer (SUI, Racing Engineering) celebrates his pole position with Marcus Ericsson (SWE, Dams) and Felipe Nasr (BRA, Carlin) after the end of Friday qualifying at Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir - April 19, 2013. (World Copyright: Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service.)
Marcus Ericsson (SWE, Dams) during Friday qualifying at Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir - April 19, 2013. (World Copyright: Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service.)
Marcus Ericsson (SWE, Dams) on Sunday at Malaysia . March 24 2013. (World Copyright: Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service.)
Fabio Leimer (SUI, Racing Engineering) celebrates his victory on the podium with James Calado (GBR , ART Grand Prix) and Stefano Coletti (MON, Rapax) after the Malaysia feature race - March 23 2013. (World Copyright: Glenn Dunbar/GP2 Series Media Service.)
Marcus Ericsson (SWE, Dams) during qualifying at Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia - March 22 2013. (World Copyright: Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service.)
Marcus Ericsson (SWE, Dams) during the third day of pre-season testing at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. Thursday 7th March. (Photo Credit: Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service.)
James Calado (GBR , ART Grand Prix) on the second day of 2013 GP2 Series Testing at the Circuit de Jerez in Spain. Wednesday 27th February 2013. (Photo copyright: Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service.)
James Calado (GBR , ART Grand Prix) on the second day of 2013 GP2 Series Testing at the Circuit de Jerez in Spain. Wednesday 27th February 2013. (Photo copyright: Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service.)

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Nanbawan - Unregistered

April 22, 2012 5:19 PM

looks like Italy shouldn't stay without a driver in the top flight for too long...

I wish DAMS could have a serious crack at F1 one of these days, they deserve it. Maybe they could be the backbone of a silent Renault team (they're still sporting the Renault F1 junior team colours) in case the manufacturer would like to come back in an all French challenge.

And maybe ART could be a baby Lotus team...

*pop*

Here goes my dream bubble...:p

sodesu

April 23, 2012 5:40 PM

Problem with Valsecchi is if he does take the title I have a feeling he's going to be the next Pantano rather than the next Vettel or Hamilton. He's looking very strong now, and while he hasn't exactly been rubbish before in GP2 he's just taken too long to really make his mark I think.


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