Posted on 11th October 2014
Jolyon Palmer went into the Feature Race in Sochi knowing that if he took the race victory and his main rival Felipe Nasr failed to score any points, the 2014 championship would be his own.
The race got underway and it was Takuya Izawa who launched into the lead from third on the grid ahead of Stoffel Vandoorne and Arthur Pic. Vandoorne took back the race lead into turn two ahead of Jolyon Palmer – who had a monster of a start – and Arthur Pic.
The aforementioned Frenchman pitted for fresh prime tyres as soon as the pit lane opened at the end of lap six but didn't set a precedent.
Stefano Coletti ground to a halt on lap eight of the race which sparked the Safety Car to be deployed. A major chain reaction of pit stops ensued but an uncharacteristic mistake from the ever so experienced ART Grand Prix team left Stoffel Vandoorne out on the track. Felipe Nasr was awarded a drive through penalty for leaving the track at turn two and gaining an advantage on the opening lap. The Brazilian opted to serve his penalty in the Safety Car period but this is against the rules and he later served another and dropped out of all contention.
After the stricken Racing Engineering belonging to Coletti had been removed from the circuit, the racing got underway again. Jolyon Palmer was in the de facto race lead ahead of RT RUSSIAN TIME driver Mitch Evans.
Away from the fight for the race lead, Marco Sørensen and Daniel Abt came to blows on the run down to the second corner. The Danish driver damaged his front wing and Abt later retired in the pit lane. Abt's team mate Jon Lancaster pulled off a stunning three-car overtake into the second corner but was pushed into a spin two turns later which put paid to the Leeds driver's efforts.
Four laps before the end Stoffel Vandoorne pitted for new rubber and gave the true race lead to Palmer. Evans – racing for home team RT RUSSIAN TIME – tried with all of his might to overpower the British driver but it was to no avail.
Jolyon Palmer crossed the line in first place after 28 laps of racing to become 2014 GP2 Series Champion
Mitch Evans took second place and Raffaele Marciello honoured his vow to get a podium finish in this race for his good friend Jules Bianchi.
Position Driver Team Gap
1 Palmer DAMS 54:37.072
2 Evans RT RUSSIAN TIME 1.267
3 Marciello Racing Engineering 15.584
4 Pic Campos Racing 17.550
5 Vandoorne ART Grand Prix 18.104
6 Negrão Arden International 23.154
7 Canamasas Trident 28.231
8 Leal Carlin 29.382
9 Sørensen MP Motorsport 29.493
10 Berthon Venezuela GP Lazarus 31.332
11 Gasly Caterham Racing 31.649
12 Lancaster Hilmer Motorsport 32.080
13 Sato Campos Racing 32.740
14 De Jong MP Motorsport 35.710
15 Trummer Rapax 36.423
16 Markelov RT RUSSIAN TIME 37.391
17 Richelmi DAMS 41.013
18 Nasr Carlin 43.287
19 Haryanto Caterham Racing 45.167
20 Cecotto Trident 45.575
21 Izawa ART Grand Prix 52.339
22 Ellinas Rapax 56.444
23 Binder Arden International 63.449
24 Abt Hilmer Motorsport DNF
25 Coletti Racing Engineering DNF
26 Campana Venezuela GP Lazarus DNS
Report by Callum Rowe, whose further report on Palmer’s win can be found at http://callumrowesgp2blog.com/2014/10/11/jolyon-palmer-crowned-2014-gp2-series-champion/
Thanks www.grahamandleigh.co.uk for yet another great circuit representation. Check them out
