Stoffel Vandoorne and Felipe Nasr complete podium in Sochi
Sunday 12 October 2014 10:51, UK
Marco Sorensen took his maiden GP2 victory in the Russian Sprint Race, leading every lap from pole position.
The Dane was told by his engineer ahead of the race “okay Marco, you know what you are doing, get on with it” and after maintaining his lead at the start the 24-year-old never looked troubled.
Behind Sorensen a number of drivers impressed as they charged through the field, proving that overtaking is very much possible around the Sochi Autodrom.
Felipe Nasr came from 17th on the grid to take the final podium spot as he looks to hold onto the runners-up spot in the Drivers’ Championship, but he still lost ground to Stoffel Vandoorne, who finished second.
Stefano Coletti worked his way from the back-row of the grid to take the final points position in eighth, whilst newly-crowned champion Jolyon Palmer recovered from being punted off at Turn Two and running last on the opening lap to finish in the top ten.
Raffelle Marciello brought out the Safety Car in the closing stages when he picked up a puncture after squeezing Artem Markelov against the inside wall. The Russian Time driver’s front wing made contact with the Italian’s rear and he subsequently spun out at the final corner.
That set up a grandstand finish in the final two laps, but there was nothing Vandoorne could do about Sorensen who eased away to win by 1.3 seconds.
The final two races of the 2014 GP2 Series take place in Abu Dhabi and you can see all the action live on Sky Sports F1 on November 21-23.
GP2 Sprint Race – Russia
1) Marco Sorensen (DEN) – MP Motorsport – 40:19.905
2) Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL) – ART Grand Prix - +1.302
3) Felipe Nasr (BRA) – Carlin - +1.969
4) Mitch Evans (NZL) – Russian Time - +3.282
5) Arthur Pic (FRA) – Campos Racing - +4.109
6) Andre Negrao (BRA) – Arden International - +5.841
7) Kimiya Sato (JAP) – Campos Racing - +7.143
8) Stefano Coletti (MON) – Racing Engineering - +9.027
9) Nathanael Berthon (FRA) – Venezuela GP Lazarus - +11.038
10) Jolyon Palmer (GBR) – DAMS - +11.582
Selected others
16) Jon Lancaster (GBR) – Hilmer Motorsport - +15.173
Drivers’ Championship
1) Jolyon Palmer – 256
2) Felipe Nasr – 200
3) Stoffel Vandoorne – 192
4) Mitch Evans – 151
5) Johnny Cecotto – 128