Gasly lands GP2 title; Lynn wins final race

Abu Dhabi - Gasly started eight on the reverse grid and finished ninth

Prema Racing Pierre Gasly won the GP2 championship crown at the Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday.
It was however, DAMS driver Alex Lynn, who won the race.
Gasly started eight on the reverse grid and finished ninth. He failed to score a point but then his chief rival and teammate Antonio Giovinazzi couldn't bridge the 12-point gap to the title in the final race of the season. The title clash closely mirrored the high-profile fight for Formula One glory between Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg - a battle between teammates and 12-points at that.
Giovinazzi needed at least a top-two finish to challenge Gasly but could manage only a sixth-spot finish. Hence, Gasly, the Red Bull Racing test driver, pocketed the title in his second season of GP2 racing.
"Big thanks to Prema and Red Bull Racing, and all the people who supported me to have made it possible," the 20-year-old from France said. Gasly won with a grand-total of 219 points.
From the start, Lynn had tough lockdown with Johnny Cecotto of Rapax. Giovinazzi lost ground right from the fourth-grid start and couldn't climb up in course of the race. Giovinazzi also suffered rear wheel spin but held on. It was a desperate fight for podium finish but it was not his day.
And Lynn make good of the pole position to win by 4.95 seconds. Cecotto came second and ART Grand Prix's Sergey Sirotkin completed the podium.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com

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