Jolyon Palmer heads to Russia this weekend with the chance of becoming the first British champion of the F1-supporting GP2 Series since Lewis Hamilton in 2006.

Palmer has set a GP2 record by scoring points in every race so far this year, with three wins and seven other top-three placings.

The 23-year-old from Southwater holds a 41-point lead over his nearest rival, Williams F1 official test driver Felipe Nasr, with four races remaining.

The first two are the two races on the new Sochi Autodrom this weekend, then two at Yas Marina supporting the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 21-23.

Forty-eight points are available from each GP2 race weekend, meaning Palmer, right, needs to score just eight more points than the Brazilian to be crowned champion this weekend.

Winning GP2 does not guarantee a place in Formula One but would enhance Palmer’s chances of securing a drive at the highest level of the sport next season.

The last and only previous Briton to win this championship was Hamilton in 2006. Other former winners of the F1 feeder series include Nico Rosberg, Timo Glock and Romain Grosjean.

Palmer’s most recent win came last time out at Monza in Italy where, after being relegated to the back of the grid after a post-qualifying technicality, he fought back to take eighth place in race one, giving him pole for race two, which he dominated.

The new Sochi circuit is built around the Olympic Park used for this year’s Winter Olympics.

DAMS driver Palmer said: “I’m looking forward to my first trip to Russia and driving a new track in Sochi.

“The track will be new for everyone so getting up to speed will be important in the free practice session. At the moment I don’t know what to expect so I’m looking forward to getting out there to find out.”