Photo: GP2 Media Service
Fabio Leimer began the second round of the GP2 Series in Bahrain by going a second faster than anyone else in free practice.
The Swiss driver, who won the season-opening feature race in Malaysia, posted a 1m41.361s during the early stages of the 30 minute session.
That benchmark would go unmatched, with Sam Bird getting closest, 1.060s away. Championship leader and Malaysia pole-man Stefano Coletti was third, narrowly ahead of Alexander Rossi, who is making his proper GP2 Series debut this weekend with Caterham.
Marcus Ericsson, looking to bounce back from a tough time in Malaysia, was fifth ahead of fellow title hopefuls Felipe Nasr and James Calado. Tom Dillmann, Johnny Cecotto and Daniel Abt completed the top ten.
Rossi?s fellow debutant Robin Frijns finished down in 23rd on his first drive for new team Hilmer, 2.5s off the pace.
Qualifying takes place at 16:00 local time (GMT+3).
Free practice times
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Laps |
| 1 | Fabio Leimer | Racing Engineering | 1:41.361 | 8 | |
| 2 | Sam Bird | Russian Time | 1:42.421 | 1.060 | 10 |
| 3 | Stefano Coletti | Rapax | 1:42.628 | 1.267 | 12 |
| 4 | Alexander Rossi | Caterham Racing | 1:42.636 | 1.275 | 13 |
| 5 | Marcus Ericsson | DAMS | 1:42.666 | 1.305 | 14 |
| 6 | Felipe Nasr | Carlin | 1:42.687 | 1.326 | 12 |
| 7 | James Calado | ART Grand Prix | 1:42.718 | 1.357 | 13 |
| 8 | Tom Dillmann | Russian Time | 1:42.734 | 1.373 | 10 |
| 9 | Johnny Cecotto | Arden International | 1:42.803 | 1.442 | 13 |
| 10 | Daniel Abt | ART Grand Prix | 1:42.943 | 1.582 | 12 |
| 11 | Stephane Richelmi | DAMS | 1:43.035 | 1.674 | 13 |
| 12 | Simon Trummer | Rapax | 1:43.054 | 1.693 | 15 |
| 13 | Mitch Evans | Arden International | 1:43.063 | 1.702 | 13 |
| 14 | Sergio Canamasas | Caterham Racing | 1:43.092 | 1.731 | 13 |
| 15 | Julian Leal | Racing Engineering | 1:43.156 | 1.795 | 11 |
| 16 | Jolyon Palmer | Carlin | 1:43.188 | 1.827 | 13 |
| 17 | Kevin Ceccon | Trident Racing | 1:43.271 | 1.910 | 13 |
| 18 | Kevin Giovesi | Venezuela GP Lazarus | 1:43.280 | 1.919 | 14 |
| 19 | Jake Rosenzweig | Barwa Addax Team | 1:43.310 | 1.949 | 12 |
| 20 | Rio Haryanto | Barwa Addax Team | 1:43.356 | 1.995 | 12 |
| 21 | Rene Binder | Venezuela GP Lazarus | 1:43.620 | 2.259 | 13 |
| 22 | Nathanel Berthon | Trident Racing | 1:43.670 | 2.309 | 14 |
| 23 | Robin Frijns | Hilmer Motorsport | 1:43.875 | 2.514 | 14 |
| 24 | Adrian Quaife-Hobbs | MP Motorsport | 1:44.002 | 2.641 | 13 |
| 25 | Daniel De Jong | MP Motorsport | 1:44.200 | 2.839 | 12 |
| 26 | Pal Varhaug | Hilmer Motorsport | 1:44.915 | 3.554 | 11 |