The GP2 teams enjoyed a trouble-free day with impeccable reliability on the first day of testing at the Circuito de Velocidad in Jerez this week with drivers on hand completing 1412 laps in total and covered 6252.336kms overall. Pastor Maldonado recorded a 1:24.727 in the morning session, three tenths clear of Koudai Tsukakoshi who continues to impress for Piquet Sports.

Entering the top 3 was Dams’ Kamui Kobayashi ahead of another competitive rookie Nico Hulkenberg, who was fresh from winning the F3Euroseries, in the second ART car. They were followed by the experienced Karun Chandhok for FMS, Andreas Zuber, Davide Valsecchi, Diego Nunes and Alvaro Parente. Russian Vitaly Petrov completed the top 10 at the wheel of the Campos car.

For day two the weather conditions somewhat and the rain appeared twenty minutes before the end of the session. With track conditions relatively different, laptimes were slower and Kobayashi’s impressive morning laptime remained the fastest of the two-day test session.

Once again, the Dams driver was the quickest this afternoon ahead of Nico Hulkenberg who never left the top 5 during his two days at the wheel of the ART car. Third was Davide Valsecchi, who confirmed his good form in the Durango contender. Also confirming his competitiveness, Charles Pic, in the second ART car, finished the session in fourth place and a clear three tenths ahead of the more experienced Roldan Rodriguez for Piquet.

Jérôme d’Ambrosio followed in the Dams, ahead of newcomer Edoardo Mortara for Arden, Diego Nunes and Luca Filippi for Racing Engineering while Andreas Zuber completed the top 10. ART Grand Prix and Dams were the only teams to place both of their cars in the top 10.

The teams will gather again in two weeks time in Le Castellet, France on November 11th and 12th for the last test session of the year.