Jolyon Palmer put his frustrations from yesterday's Feature Race behind him to produce a brilliant drive during today's (Sunday) GP2 Sprint Race in Bahrain, making up an outstanding 18 places to finish seventh and collect his first points of the season.

Starting from the back row of the grid following a mechanical failure in race one, Palmer made a great start as the lights went out moving his way through the field on the opening lap and lying P16 in the early stages, chasing down Fabrizio Crestani ahead.

The 21-year-old continued to push during the middle part of the race, dispatching Crestani and gaining a further three places to find himself in 12th before making two more positions to lie inside the top 10. 

As race-leader Fabio Leimer took his drive-through penalty, the Brit took his chance to pass Giedo Van Der Garde with a great overtake into Turn 1 and moving into the points with just a few laps remaining. The iSport driver showed great pace right up until the chequered flag earning himself yet another place to cross the line seventh after starting 25th on the grid.

Speaking afterwards Palmer said: "Starting from the back I kept my head down in the early stages and tried to pick off as many people as I could. I used my tyres a lot in the early phase but I was able to save them a bit in the middle whilst I was behind a queue of cars. As the race went on I picked off another group and ended P7 with some nice moves throughout the race. It is slightly frustrating knowing that with the pace we had we could have been on the podium if we had started where we should have but at least we know we are in a good position for next weekend."

Meanwhile Davide Valsecchi picked up his second win of the weekend closely followed by the Lotus GP pairing of Esteban Gutierrez and James Calado.

The series returns to Bahrain next weekend for round three of the 2012 GP2 Series with full coverage on Jolyon's official website.

GP2 Bahrain, Sprint Race results:

1. D Valsecchi, DAMS, 22 laps
2. E Gutierrez, Lotus GP, +0.399s
3. J Calado, Lotus GP, +10.617s
4. L Razia, Arden, +12.463s
5. M Chilton, Carlin, +13.573s
6. F Nasr, DAMS, +15.414s
7. J Palmer, iSport, +22.950s
8. S Trummer, Arden, +30.425s
9. G VD Garde, Caterham, +31.976s