17/10/2008
NEWS STORY
Dams driver Kamui Kobayashi has taken the top spot in free practice almost half a second clear of Roldan Rodriguez (Piquet GP).
After setting the pace during last week's two-day test session at this same track, the Toyota test driver looks on top form for the GP2 Asia Series second season debut.
In a dry and calm session, the Japanese driver set a best time of 1:45.527 on only his third lap, 0.468 ahead of Rodriguez. The Spaniard is the only driver, along with Kobayashi, to have gone under 1:46. In third place, the experienced Andreas Zuber on Fisichella Motor Sport International just edged out Javier Villa and rookie Van der Garde.
Behind the top five, Vitaly Petrov finished ahead of Davide Valsecchi, Sakon Yamamoto and Mika Maki. Another rookie, Hamad Al Farden, completes the Top 10. GFH Team iSport are the only team to have placed their two drivers in the Top 10.
The session was red flagged for one minute before the end of the session after Frenchman Nelson Philippe stopped his ART car at turn 13 following a minor technical problem.