Stunning drive sees Alex Dunne finish second in F2 Sprint in Barcelona after starting in 19th

A combination of superb driving talent and an excellent pitstop strategy from his Roddin team saw Alex Dunne claim the most unlikely of podiums at the F2 Sprint Race in Barcelona. 

After receiving two separate grid penalties, the Offaly driver started in 19th on the grid but by the end of the 26 lap race he had moved up to second and back into the lead of the F2 World Championship. 

The McLaren junior driver was quick off the line at the start and settled into 13th place as the race progressed. With Championship leader Luke Browning in the lead, it looked as if Alex Dunne was set to lose ground in the race for the prestigious title.

However a crash on lap 19 brought out the safety car and his Roddin team called him into the pits to put on fresh, soft tyres. 

This proved to be a master stroke as it gave Dunne the opportunity to move up through the field and he took it with both hands.

The safety card ended on 21 with the Offaly driver finding himself in 11th place. However with better tyres than all but one of the cars in front of him, he quickly cut through the field. 

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By the start of the next lap he had moved up to seventh following Richard Verschoor, also on fresh tyres, through the pack. 

By the start of lap 24, Verschoor had taken the lead and Dunne was up to second place. The Offaly driver pushed the Dutch man through the closing laps but was unable to take the lead. 

Despite that, the nine points he picked up for finishing second have moved him back to the top of the F2 World Championship and he has a lead of four points over Luke Browning with Verschoor in third in the race for the title. 

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The Feature Race in Barcelona takes place at 9am on Sunday