In warm conditions once again, management of tyre degredation would again be very important for Race 2 at Barcelona. The starting failure at the end of the qualifying session continued to create a challenge for Calan with the starting position for Race 2 based on the finishing poisition for Race 1 determined by that qualifying. It is a tough format, so he would again start from P25 on the grid.
Off the line he made a great getaway, making up two positions in the run down to turn 1. Positioning the car well through turn 2 he made further gains as there was contact between other cars on his outside. Up the fast right hand turn 3, he then made a brave move around the outside to gain a further place which he repeated through turn 4.
In four corners, Calan had gained an incredible 8 places to be in P17!
Following a safety car restart, the race turned into its familiar nose-to-tail formation as the difficulty of passing at Barcelona became evident. With the activation of DRS (later in the race than usual due to the early safety car), turn 1 would present the only real passing opportunity
Timing his run to maximise his opportunity into turn 1, Calan first attacked Trident's Lirim Zendelli around the outside to take 16th, and then repeated this move on Cameron Das after initially moving to the inside, but upon having this defended made a confident switch to the outside to take 15th.
Quickly arriving on the back of Jack Doohan, Calan made a further move on him which was defended, however on the followng and final lap of the race was slightly closer down the straight and successfully completed the move, again around the outside, to move into P14 to finish the race.
An outstanding race with the highest positions gained of any driver and with excellent management of the tyres maximising the result in what was a very strong performance the entire weekend other than a slight and costly technical failure at the critical point of qualifying.
Calan takes a high degree of confidence in his performance into the next event at his favourite circuit, Spa, in two weeks time.
Photos: Dutch Photo Agency