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PaddockScout’s Race of the Year

GP2 Series

Spa-Francorchamps

Feature Race

GP2 is often lambasted for being the dominion of experienced racers, who might be less talented then their rookie peers but win through the sheer virtue of better car and tyre knowledge.

That wasn’t entirely untrue in 2014, but the series could not have wished for a better commercial when two of its biggest rookie starts – McLaren junior Stoffel Vandoorne and Ferrari protege Raffaele Marciello – left the opposition in the dust on a wet day at Spa-Francorchamps.

But it wasn’t just the significance of the names or the heavy rain, as the duo starred in a great battle for the win, befitting of their sheer talent. The Italian eventually emerged victorious, securing a mighty popular win after coming under fire for mistakes earlier in the season.

Behind them, Felipe Nasr charged past title rival Jolyon Palmer from 11th on the grid and eventually fought his way up to fourth, while Daniel Abt cleared Andre Negrao for the ever-important reverse-grid pole with a lap to go.

It was action all around, but, then again, GP2 has gotten us used to nothing less.

As such, the championship’s excellent brawl at Spa is our Race of the Year.