GP2: Vandoorne dominates feature race

McLaren reserve Stoffel Vandoorne won the GP2 feature race in Abu Dhabi to take his fourth win of 2014, and move into second in the championship ahead of Felipe Nasr.

The polesitter got away cleanly to hold off a charging Nasr, the Brazilian moving up to second from his starting position of fifth by the end of the first lap.

A scrappy move by Rene Binder with Jon Lancaster and Russian Grand Prix sprint race winner Marco Sorensen brought out the safety car at the end of lap 1, but Vandoorne's well controlled restart allowed him to pull away from the field.

When the pit window opened on lap 6, Vandoorne and Nasr jumped immediately, feeding back into the pack in ninth and 10th, respectively. The Belgian had his work cut out to scythe his way through the pack, first stealing past Artem Markelov and then Jon Lancaster.

Lancaster attempted a clumsy pass back on the ART driver, losing his wing in the process, but Vandoorne held firm to bring the car home first.

Jolyon Palmer and Mitch Evans were on a different strategy, running the medium tire first. They almost touched leaving the pits with eight laps remaining, and came out in second and third ahead of Johnny Cecotto and Nasr. With fresher tires, Palmer and Evans were catching Vandoorne, but were unable to pass.

Vandoorne's win means he now holds second in the standings ahead of Carlin driver Nasr, while Palmer's second place finish secured the team's title for DAMS.

Stephane Richelmi, Cecotto and Coletti all finished in the points, with Arthur Pic taking eighth for tomorrow's sprint race. Rio Haryanto and Daniel de Jong completed the points.

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