Kobayashi on top in Paul Ricard test
Kamui Kobayashi continued to show impressive form in GP2, the Japanese topping the times on the first day of testing at the Paul Ricard circuit
The DAMS driver posted a best time of 1:15.434 in the afternoon session to finish over three tenths of a second ahead of the impressive rookie Will Bratt in the DPR machine.
Track conditions were far from perfect during the day after rain hit the French circuit both in the morning and near the end of the session.
Another rookie, Koudai Tsukakoshi, was also very quick today, setting the third fastest time in the Campos car, ahead of Luca Filippi and Charles Pic, also a rookie.
A total of 12 drivers finished in the same second.
Female racer Natacha Gachnang also made her GP2 debut today at the wheel of the FMS car, the Austrian completing 22 laps in the afternoon on her way to the slowest time. In the morning, however, she was 19th quickest.
The test continues tomorrow.
Afternoon times Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Kamui Kobayashi Dams 1:15.434 29
2. Will Bratt DPR 1:15.749 48
3. Koudai Tsukakoshi Barwa Int Campos Team 1:16.072 40
4. Luca Filippi Super Nova Racing 1:16.082 23
5. Charles Pic Piquet Sports 1:16.221 32
6. Giedo Van der Garde iSport International 1:16.268 15
7. Jerome D Ambrosio Dams 1:16.368 41
8. Roldan Rodriguez Piquet Sports 1:16.394 33
9. Andreas Zuber Racing Engineering 1:16.395 17
10. Nico Hulkenberg ART Grand Prix 1:16.432 31
11. Luiz Razia FMS International 1:16.520 46
12. Davide Valsecchi Durango 1:16.541 16
13. Mike Conway iSport International 1:16.557 25
14. Vitaly Petrov Barwa Int Campos Team 1:16.638 23
15. Alberto Valerio ART Grand Prix 1:16.893 14
16. Michael Herck DPR 1:17.268 16
17. Marcello Puglisi Durango 1:17.457 27
18. Julien Jousse Trident Racing 1:17.472 32
19. Fabio Onidi Super Nova Racing 1:17.656 39
20. Sten Pentus Racing Engineering 1:18.205 22
21. Fabio Leimer Trident Racing 1:18.353 34
22. Christian Ebbesvik Trust Team Arden 1:18:549 20
23. Nelson Panciatici Trust Team Arden 1:19.404 17
24. Natacha Gachnang FMS International 1:28.710 22
Morning times Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Davide Valsecchi Durango 1:18.496 28
2. Jerome D Ambrosio Dams 1:19.969 53
3. Luca Filippi Super Nova Racing 1:20.022 37
4. Michael Herck DPR 1:20.779 37
5. Kamui Kobayashi Dams 1:20.980 26
6. Oliver Turvey iSport International 1:21.161 43
7. Luiz Razia FMS International 1:22.126 63
8. Koudai Tsukakoshi Barwa Campos Team 1:22.255 36
9. Vitaly Petrov Barwa Campos Team 1:23.783 21
10. Fabio Leimer Trident Racing 1:23.844 49
11. Andreas Zuber Racing Engineering 1:24.220 34
12. Giedo Van der Garde iSport International 1:24.237 30
13. Nelson Panciatici Trust Team Arden 1:24.408 41
14. Julien Jousse Trident Racing 1:24.479 36
15. Will Bratt DPR 1:24.728 50
16. Fabio Onidi Super Nova Racing 1:25.135 37
17. Sten Pentus Racing Engineering 1:25.414 40
18. Marcello Puglisi Durango 1:25.501 41
19. Natacha Gachnang FMS International 1:26.060 68
20. Christian Ebbesvic Trust Team Arden 1:26.144 41
21. Roldan Rodriguez Piquet Sports 1:26.744 10
22. Nico Hulkenberg ART Grand Prix 1:27.336 23
23. Charles Pic Piquet Sports 1:28.200 19
24. Alberto Valerio ART Grand Prix 1:28.498 38
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