Gelael hospitalised after F2 feature race incident in Barcelona

DAMS Formula 2 driver Sean Gelael has been taken to hospital for precautionary checks after failing to finish Saturday’s feature race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

While it wasn’t completely clear on television, it's been revealed that Gelael’s DAMS car came to a halt on track with two corners to go.

The Indonesian driver was then unable to get out of the car by his own doing.

The FIA has since announced Gelael was extricated from the car by attending marshals and medical personnel before being transferred by ambulance to the nearby hospital - Hospital General De Granollers, which is situated 7.7km away from the Barcelona circuit.

A statement by the FIA read: “The FIA advises that an incident occurred during the final lap of the FIA Formula 2 Feature Race today, in Barcelona, involving Sean Gelael.

“The DAMS driver was immediately attended to by emergency and medical crews. He was extricated by the attending medical crew and has been transferred by ambulance to Hospital General De Granollers for precautionary checks.”

Official reasons haven't been disclosed by the FIA to why Gelael has been transferred to hospital as of yet.

In the race itself, MP Motorsport's Nobuharu Matsushita claimed a surprise victory as he benefited from the first Safety Car period to make his mandatory pit stop.

Championship contender Robert Shwartzman and Renault junior Guanyu Zhou joined Matsushita on the podium.

Points leader Callum Ilott only managed fifth after looking to be favourite to take the win before the Safety Car period.

Heading into Sunday's sprint race, Ilott has a 17-point lead over Shwartzman in the drivers' standings; UNI-Virtuosi Racing holds a 24-point lead in the teams' standings.