DRIVER James Calado made a memorable debut in the GP2 Series with victory in an exhibition race in Abu Dhabi.

Competing for Lotus-ART, the Cropthorne-based driver took a lights-to-flag victory at Yas Marina circuit in the final race of the season.

The non-championship showdown saw debutant Calado and team-mate Esteban Gutierrez unite for the first time, ahead of Lotus-ART’s 2012 campaign. But it was the former who took the spoils.

But he was out-qualified by Gutierrez, and the pair started the first race 11th and eighth respectively.

The Mexican made a good start and shot up to fourth before Stefano Coletti tagged the rear of his green-and-yellow car and took half the wing off.

But on the fourth lap Gutierrez had no choice but to pit, and this sent him to the back of the field and a lap down.

Calado, meanwhile, was patiently promoted, making up a place at the start and rising to eighth by the chequered flag.

This put him in pole position for race two’s reverse grid and he seized the opportunity by leading all 31 laps to the finish. It also earned him a 15,000 Euro prize.

Gutierrez once again proved his pace, fighting his way through the field from his 21st place grid slot. By lap five he was 14th, and by lap 18 he was ninth.

As Alexander Rossi and Fabio Leimer squabbled over fifth place and the field bunched up behind them, he kept his head and came through in fifth on the final lap.

Calado: “It’s a fantastic feeling. The emotion going over the line was incredible.

“This weekend was the perfect rehearsal before next season. To be at such a prestigious event and win is just great.”