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GP2 Bahrain: Vandoorne eyes double win with GP2's new DRS

Stoffel Vandoorne that GP2's new drag reduction system can help him to push to complete a double victory in tomorrow's Bahrain sprint race

The McLaren Formula 1-backed ART driver won the opening race of the season after charging through the field following a late tyre change and will start race two in eighth place on the reversed grid.

Race report: Vandoorne wins with late pass

Although the Belgian's progress in the closing stages of today's race was largely down to the significant pace advantage of his fresh rubber, the DRS could be a more significant factor on Sunday.

"To be honest, I didn't really pass people under the DRS [in race one], everything happened in the corners with the soft tyre," Vandoorne told AUTOSPORT.

"But it does help, so we will see tomorrow what will happen as I will have a clearer view of the DRS starting in eighth and we will see how it is going."

Vandoorne is hopeful that the new DRS, which uses the same activation zones as Formula 1, will help the fastest drivers to get stronger results in reversed-grid races throughout the season.

Since the championship was launched in 2005, the driver finishing eighth in the feature race has started on pole for the sprint race but double victories on a weekend are rare.

"I think from our perspective, it's an advantage as it will definitely give us some opportunities to overtake," said Vandoorne.

"It's something that we're going to be able to use, and if we've got some speed we can work our way through."

The 23-year-old Belgian also noted that Bahrain is a circuit that gives drivers a good opportunity to get a good result on Sunday after winning on Saturday.

"I think this is one of the tracks where if you are strong during the weekend you can do a pretty amazing job," he said.

"There is an opportunity there for us tomorrow to do very well and we will see how it goes.

"I just need a clean start to begin with and then it's going to be managing tyres.

"But I'm confident we can fight for another good result."

Vandoorne's win in today's race, on top of pole position and fastest lap, means he leads the championship with a maximum haul of 31 points.

DID YOU KNOW?

Only seven times has a driver managed to win both races during a GP2 weekend since the series was launched in 2005.

Nico Rosberg - Bahrain 2006
Lewis Hamilton - Nurburgring 2006
Lewis Hamilton - Silverstone 2006
Nelson Piquet Jr - Hungaroring 2006
Giorgio Pantano - Monza 2006
Nico Hulkenberg - Nurburgring 2009
Davide Valsecchi - Bahrain 2012

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