Palmer tops GP2 pre-season tests after day 2

British driver Jolyon Palmer maintained his benchmark form by clocking the fastest time on day 2 of the official pre-season GP2 tests at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi.

After setting the quickest time on the opening day, the DAMS driver clocked 1:50.311s in the morning session to top his team-mate Stephane Richelmi (1:50.947s) with Jon Lancaster (MP Manor 1:51.005s) third fastest.

The Kiwi driver Mitch Evans, who has switched to the winning Russian Time team this season after his maiden GP2 year in 2013 with Arden, was fifth fastest in 1:51.231s.

Palmer’s time could not be bettered in the afternoon run with Johnny Cecotto, who has moved to Trident, topping the session in 1:50.760s.

Stoffel Vandoorne (ART) was less than a tenth away in second (1:50.821s) with incoming Arden driver Andre Negrao third best in 1:51.237s.

Evans ended the session seventh fastest in 1:51.714s after completing 23 laps.

Rio Haryanto was the early pacesetter in the morning before the initial red flag was waved when Vandoorne had stopped at turn 19 after clipping a barrier.

In the final 60 minutes of the morning group, Conor Daly and Facu Regalia collided at turn 18 with the American forced into an early retirement for the day.

GP2 test Day 2 – morning session 

1	Jolyon Palmer	DAMS	1min50.311s	27
2	Stéphane Richelmi	DAMS	1:50.947	28
3	Jon Lancaster	MP Motorsport	1:51.005	20
4	Kimiya Sato	Campos Racing	1:51.204	18
5	Mitch Evans	RT RUSSIAN TIME	1:51.231	19
6	Rio Haryanto	EQ8 Caterham Racing	1:51.445	28
7	Alexander Rossi	EQ8 Caterham Racing	1:51.484	27
8	Felipe Nasr	Carlin	1:51.810	22
9	Johnny Cecotto	Trident	1:51.839	15
10	Conor Daly	Venezuela GP Lazarus	1:51.846	12
11	Julian Leal	Carlin	1:51.893	16
12	Raffaele Marciello	Racing Engineering	1:52.024	27
13	Arthur Pic	Campos Racing	1:52.215	27
14	André Negrao	Arden International	1:52.268	22
15	Stoffel Vandoorne	ART Grand Prix	1:52.335	11
16	Stefano Coletti	Racing Engineering	1:52.404	20
17	Takuya Izawa	ART Grand Prix	1:52.545	26
18	Nathanaël Berthon	Venezuela GP Lazarus	1:52.580	13
19	Daniiel De Jong	MP Motorsport	1:52.657	15
20	Rene Binder	Arden International	1:52.887	19
21	Axcil Jefferies	Trident	1:53.133	21
22	Adrian Quaife-Hobbs	Rapax	1:53.162	18
23	Simon Trummer	Rapax	1:53.358	24
24	Artem Markelov	RT RUSSIAN TIME	1:53.358	24
25	Daniel Abt	Hilmer Motorsport	1:56.274	18
26	Facu Regalia	Hilmer Motorsport	—	0

GP2 Day 2 testing – afternoon session

1	Johnny Cecotto	Trident	1:50.760	14
2	Stoffel Vandoorne	ART Grand Prix	1:50.821	33
3	André Negrao	Arden International	1:51.237	27
4	Daniiel De Jong	MP Motorsport	1:51.590	17
5	Facu Regalia	Hilmer Motorsport	1:51.614	29
6	Daniel Abt	Hilmer Motorsport	1:51.668	17
7	Mitch Evans	RT RUSSIAN TIME	1:51.714	23
8	Arthur Pic	Campos Racing	1:51.769	31
9	Rene Binder	Arden International	1:52.038	17
10	Jon Lancaster	MP Motorsport	1:52.132	30
11	Artem Markelov	RT RUSSIAN TIME	1:52.341	32
12	Takuya ISO	ART Grand Prix	1:52.528	23
13	Adrian Quaife-Hobbs	Rapax	1:52.595	18
14	Simon Trummer	Rapax	1:52.640	20
15	Axcil Jefferies	Trident	1:52.944	20
16	Nathanaël Berthon	Venezuela GP Lazarus	1:53.393	15
17	Stéphane Richelmi	DAMS	1:53.992	35
18	Jolyon Palmer	DAMS	1:54.007	36
19	Kimiya Sato	Campos Racing	1:54.142	33
20	Rio Haryanto	EQ8 Caterham Racing	1:54.615	34
21	Felipe Nasr	Carlin	1:54.714	25
22	Julian Leal	Carlin	1:54.772	23
23	Alexander Rossi	EQ8 Caterham Racing	1:54.868	39
24	Stefano Coletti	Racing Engineering	1:55.194	29
25	Raffaele Marciello	Racing Engineering	1:55.617	32
26	Connor Daly	Venezuela GP Lazarus	—	0