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.
Click here to find out how.
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 |
