Between Speed and Piquet in the standings, Adam Carroll, Alex Premat and Neel Jani all have the chance of securing fourth overall - and, perhaps if results go their way - third spot. Carroll was returned to winning ways in Belgium by a combination of his skill in appalling conditions and the fact that he finished eighth in race one, while Jani won at the previous round in Italy, fending off Rosberg all the way to the line. Premat, meanwhile, has seen his luck tail off in recent weeks, non-scoring in both the final European rounds, and will be looking to reignite his season before its closes.
Giorgio Pantano is the closest threat to Piquet's current championship position, lying just three points behind the Brazilian after a string of podium finishes. The Italian, however, is another who many would have tipped for victory before the season - perhaps even championship honours - but who has struggled with misfortune.
Gianmaria Bruni and Jose Maria Lopez would both also have fancied themselves in the 'potential champion' category, but have faded in the latter half of the season for one reason or another. Bruni is now on his second team of the season, Durango, while Lopez remains at DAMS, both drivers seeking to reclaim the top step of the podium.
Olivier Pla and Nicolas Lapierre round out the top twelve in points, both Frenchmen hoping to return to the points after difficult outings in Belgium, and could come under pressure from the resurgent Borja Garcia and Ernesto Viso, both of whom have managed to turn their luck around in recent weeks. Both featured on the race two podium at Spa, with Viso adding a slightly fortuitous third place to the stunning second he took in race one. His confidence climbing, the Venezuelan could be a man to watch this weekend.
In truth, however, all eyes will be on just two men, as Rosberg and Kovalainen go head-to-head in a fitting climax to the inaugural GP2 campaign. Who remembers F3000 now?
![GP2 title rivals Heikki Kovalainen (Arden) and Nico Rosberg (ART) square up in Bahrain [Pic credit: GP2 Media]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/175071.jpg)
