Debutant Will Bratt produced a solid drive during the opening round of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship supporting-GP2 Asia Series in Abu Dhabi to secure a 12th-place finish.

Having encountered problems in qualifying, which meant the 21-year-old from Banbury would start from an uncharacteristic 23rd on the grid for his maiden GP2 race, he dealt with the demands of the stunning Yas Marina Circuit well – along with two safety car periods.

He finished just six seconds shy of experienced Party Poker Racing.com Scuderia Coloni teammate Roldan Rodriguez.

Bratt made an early exit from the second round of the GP2 Asia Series on Sunday when brake failure eight laps from home caused an immediate retirement.

He was running strongly at the time in the middle of an entertaining battle for 13th place with reigning International Formula Master champion Fabio Leimer and French World Series graduate Charles Pic.

As the trio headed along the back straight, Bratt’s car could not offer any stopping power at all as the front-left brake disc exploded, meaning contact with Leimer was unavoidable.

Bratt said: “It’s been a very tough weekend, but we gained a lot of knowledge which should stand us in good stead for the next two rounds in Abu Dhabi next February.

“My lap times improved greatly throughout the weekend, from the opening test all the way through to today’s race.

“So I think we’ve shown we can certainly be competitive in GP2.”

Bratt now has a lengthy 14-week break from race action with the third and fourth rounds of the GP2 Asia Series not taking place until February 2010, once again at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

He will, however, be back in a GP2 car for the three-day official main series test at Paul Ricard, in France, next week.