Lewis BealesDavide Valsecchi, the GP2 Asia champion, underlined his almost total dominance of the series with another podium place in the opening race at Bahrain, supporting the first Grand Prix of the season.Lewis Beales

Davide Valsecchi, the GP2 Asia champion, underlined his almost total dominance of the series with another podium place in the opening race at Bahrain, supporting the first Grand Prix of the season.

'Every time we have had a chance to win, we have won,' said Norfolk-based iSport's new champion, who finished up with nearly double the points of his nearest challengers.

'Today it was a bit more difficult. The new part of the track is very slow and I think it was harder on my tyres than the previous layout. Luca Filippi was a bit better in the end and he deserved to win.'

From fourth place on the grid the iSport racer managed to unseat Charles Pic from second place before the first corner but Filippi proved to be just out of reach.

Both drivers pitted on the same lap and resumed with the same margin between them, although Valsecchi had to deal with a fast closing Pic, which he managed to do.

Oliver Turvey is the second driver in the Carlton Rode team but despite qualifying for the opening race in third place, he was unable to add to his points tally when his car stalled at the start of the formation lap.

'I went to select first gear but it didn't feel like it had engaged, then when I went to select it again the engine stalled,' said the frustrated driver.

'All I can say it was a big setback. We had a good race coming through from 24th to ninth, but it was doubly frustrating as the same thing happened the last time we were here.'

In the reverse grid second race Valsecchi fought his way up from eighth place on the grid to finish in fourth while Turvey could do no better than 11th at the chequered flag after a poor opening lap.

The second race was probably the strongest showing of the series for the Griston-based Super Nova squad, with Josef Kral claiming 10th place.

'It was a much better performance from the team in every aspect,' said team principal David Sears.

'Josef managed to finish in a strong 10th place, holding off a previous race winner in the process while Jake Rosenzweig continues to learn.'

Kral started the second race from 16th on the grid and managed to avoid the usual opening lap chaos to settle down into 10nth place and then resisted pressure from the fast closing Turvey.

Meanwhile his team mate Rosenzweig claimed his second 17th place of the weekend as the novice racer continues to gain experience at this level.

Attleborough's Rodolfo Gonzalez had a disappointing weekend, failing to make it to the finish in both events.

In the opening race the Norfolk racer started from 22nd position on the grid but only completed half the number of laps.

It didn't get any better in the second race, held on Sunday morning, when he fell short by four laps in making it to the finish to end a frustrating start to the new season.