Home Formula 2 Stanaway sets the pace on final morning of Abu Dhabi test

Stanaway sets the pace on final morning of Abu Dhabi test

by Peter Allen
Richie Stanaway

Photo: Jed Leicester/GP2 Series Media Service

Status GP2 tester Richie Stanaway showed what he can do as he beat the series frontrunners to top the morning session on the third and final day of the first pre-season test in Abu Dhabi.

Midway through the three hours of running, the Kiwi posted a 1m48.441s – the best time of the week so far.

Previous pace-setter Pierre Gasly was forced to settle for second with his lap in the closing stages, 0.164s slower than Stanaway. Mitch Evans was third, having been quickest until being relegated by his compatriot Stanaway.

Raffaele Marciello was fourth, closely followed by Alexander Rossi. Sixth was Stoffel Vandoorne ahead of Gasly’s DAMS team-mate Alex Lynn. The Campos drivers Rio Haryanto and Arthur Pic made the top ten, either side of Rapax rookie Sergey Sirotkin.

The session was interrupted by two red flags in the first hour, caused by Russian Time drivers Artem Markelov and Evans stopping on track.

Morning session results
Pos Driver Team Time Gap Laps
1 Richie Stanaway Status Grand Prix 1:48.441 28
2 Pierre Gasly DAMS 1:48.605 0.164 36
3 Mitch Evans Russian Time 1:48.717 0.276 25
4 Raffaele Marciello Trident 1:48.850 0.409 35
5 Alexander Rossi Racing Engineering 1:48.857 0.416 23
6 Stoffel Vandoorne ART Grand Prix 1:48.921 0.480 31
7 Alex Lynn DAMS 1:48.937 0.496 32
8 Rio Haryanto Campos Racing 1:49.001 0.560 17
9 Sergey Sirotkin Rapax 1:49.023 0.582 12
10 Arthur Pic Campos Racing 1:49.115 0.674 16
11 Andre Negrao Arden International 1:49.142 0.701 30
12 Jordan King Racing Engineering 1:49.194 0.753 24
13 Marco Sorensen Carlin 1:49.271 0.830 22
14 Julian Leal Carlin 1:49.322 0.881 22
15 Nathanael Berthon Lazarus 1:49.426 0.985 32
16 Nobuharu Matsushita ART Grand Prix 1:49.679 1.238 39
17 Artem Markelov Russian Time 1:49.693 1.252 30
18 Rene Binder Trident 1:49.767 1.326 20
19 Vittorio Ghirelli MP Motorsport 1:50.058 1.617 17
20 Marlon Stockinger Status Grand Prix 1:50.109 1.668 32
21 Norman Nato Arden International 1:50.551 2.110 9
22 Daniel De Jong MP Motorsport 1:50.885 2.444 16
23 Robert Visoiu Rapax 1:51.076 2.635 34
24 Sergio Canamasas Hilmer Motorsport 1:51.134 2.693 34
25 Zoel Amberg Lazarus 1:51.292 2.851 2
26 Axcil Jefferies Hilmer Motorsport No time 0