Jolyon Palmer showed strong pace and overtaking prowess to finish ninth during today's (Saturday) GP2 Feature Race in Barcelona - his second points finish of the season.

Track temperatures were pushing 40˚C as the 37 lap race got underway, with Palmer making a slow getaway off the line but recovering on the opening lap to lie just outside the top 10 in the early stages.

After struggling with front tyre wear, he pitted on lap 17 to change all four tyres for a new set of the harder Pirelli compound. He rejoined the field in P13 after the pit stop shuffle, chasing down the DAMS car of Felipe Nasr ahead. A drive-through penalty for Fabio Leimer then saw Palmer move up a place as he continued to show good pace, lapping just a few tenths off the leaders.

Then on lap 26 he got a good run out of Turn 3 to make a superb pass on Nasr up the inside for 11th spot. Palmer then made another place with a brave overtake on Johnny Cecotto to lie ninth after Nigel Melker had taken his drive-through penalty. With just a few laps remaining he was unable to further improve, crossing the line just one place off the reverse pole for tomorrow's Sprint Race.

Speaking afterwards Palmer said: "I made a very poor start and lost six places on the run down to Turn 1. After that I had a very good first lap and was 11th again across the line. The first half of the race we struggled with front tyre wear and lost some ground. After the stop though we had good pace and I made a few moves to finish ninth. Overall to finish where I started was a bit disappointing but given the poor start I think it was a good recovery. The car felt pretty good overall so we should be able to move forward tomorrow."

Meanwhile, Caterham's Giedo Van Der Garde secured the race honours with James Calado and Stefano Coletti joining him on the podium.

Jolyon returns to the track at 10:35 (local time) for the weekend's 26 lap Sprint Race with full coverage on www.jolyonpalmer.com.

GP2 Barcelona, Feature Race results:

1. G VD Garde, Caterham, 37 laps
2. J Calado, Lotus GP, +0.878s
3. S Coletti, Scuderia, +3.811s
4. D Valsecchi, DAMS, +11.859s
5. N Berthon, Racing, +15.795s
6. F Onidi, Scuderia, +19.379s
7. M Chilton, Carlin, +19.768s
8. L Razia, Arden, +20.072s
9. J Palmer, iSport, +27.624s
10. E Gutierrez, Lotus GP, +36.653s