After last years explosive battle for the title and some fantastic midfield scraps the GP2 series returns this weekend to support the Malaysian Grand Prix.
The feeder series, which is the direct step below Formula 1, will kick off in Malaysia for the first race of the season. There are a few old faces mixing it with plenty of new ones and there are also a few new teams joining the ranks as well.
The 2012 season rarely had a dull moment, the close fighting and spectacular racing was coupled with some questionable moves and plenty of drama. It really was a great season to watch and the first year of the series being broadcast on Sky Sports F1 in the UK.
Davide Valsecchi and Luiz Razia both battled it out in a season long fight for the title, with the former coming out on top. The Italian had a strong early season run and won three races in succession, all three of those coming in Bahrain. Razia had a strong and consistent season and both drivers managed to drive Formula 1 machinery over the winter. However for Valsecchi it was only as a Lotus reserve driver and Razia was a F1 driver for little over a month before he was dropped cruelly due to sponsorship trouble.
2012 race winners Esteban Gutierrez, Giedo van der Garde and Max Chilton all moved up to Formula 1 for 2013 and former championship contender Jules Bianchi also made the next step too.
For 2013 the grid is very different, but the cars are very similar in comparison to last year.
Lets start with the DAMS team who last year fielded championship winner Valsecchi. With the Italian's departure, Marcus Ericsson moves over from iSport to partner former Trident racer Stephane Richelmi.
British rising star James Calado will continue with ART Grand Prix, who last year raced under the Lotus guise, as he heads into his second season in the sport. GP3 graduate and 2012 runner-up Daniel Abt will race alongside him.
Johnny Cecotto joins Arden after racing for Barwa Addax and 2012 GP3 champion Mitch Evans moves up to partner the Venezuelan. Julian Leal and Fabio Leimer complete the Racing Engineering line-up. Meanwhile former DAMS driver Felipe Nasr joins Carlin alongside Brit Jolyon Palmer.
After a year away from GP2 Sam Bird returns to the series racing for new team RUSSIAN TIME (yes in capitals), who replace iSport International after the latter was shut down to avoid bankruptcy. Highly regarded Tom Dillmann will partner him at the brand new outfit.
Controversial driver Sergio Canamasas joins the Caterham GP2 squad alongside former HRT reserve driver Ma Qing Hua, who is now the reserve driver for the Caterham Formula 1 team. Jake Rosenzweig will partner former Carlin racer Rio Haryanto at the Addax team.
Rapax have enlisted the help of Stefano Coletti and Simon Trummer to help propel them to the front of the grid, whilst Trident choose Nathaneal Berthon and GP3 racer Kevin Ceccon to move them up the order.
New team Hilmer Motorsport replace the Ocean Racing Team in GP2 and have hired GP3 racer Connor Daly and series returnee Pal Varhaug in their first season in the series. The Venezuela GP Lazarus cars will be piloted by Rene Binder and Kevin Giovesi, with another new team MP Motorsport hiring Auto GP champion Adrian Quaife-Hobbs and Daniel De Jong.
So there are plenty of new faces and teams who all have a lot to prove. Returnee Sam Bird and GP3 graduates Ceccon, Daly, Abt and Evans all have a lot of work to do if they want to make an impact. James Calado, Marcus Ericson and co who have continued on in the series must make progress if they want to challenge for the title and move up to F1.
The calendar comprimises of 11 rounds, kicking off in Malaysia this weekend and ending on the third of November in Abu Dhabi.
With Malaysia playing host to the season opener, it will be a tough challenge for all. With heat and humidity being high, tyre degradation will be key and there are plenty of opportunities to overtake at the Sepang Circuit, with its wide straights and big braking zones.
The season ahead looks to be extremely exciting, with the close racing we love to see almost guarenteed in GP2. With lots to learn and plenty to gain the pressure really is on.
There are plenty of people who could challenge for victories, so many predict it to be a very close year. Come November we will have an answer, but for now we must wait and see how it all pans out.
GP2 is definitely one to watch.
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| All images in this article (c) GP2 Series |
The 2012 season rarely had a dull moment, the close fighting and spectacular racing was coupled with some questionable moves and plenty of drama. It really was a great season to watch and the first year of the series being broadcast on Sky Sports F1 in the UK.
Davide Valsecchi and Luiz Razia both battled it out in a season long fight for the title, with the former coming out on top. The Italian had a strong early season run and won three races in succession, all three of those coming in Bahrain. Razia had a strong and consistent season and both drivers managed to drive Formula 1 machinery over the winter. However for Valsecchi it was only as a Lotus reserve driver and Razia was a F1 driver for little over a month before he was dropped cruelly due to sponsorship trouble.2012 race winners Esteban Gutierrez, Giedo van der Garde and Max Chilton all moved up to Formula 1 for 2013 and former championship contender Jules Bianchi also made the next step too.
For 2013 the grid is very different, but the cars are very similar in comparison to last year.
Lets start with the DAMS team who last year fielded championship winner Valsecchi. With the Italian's departure, Marcus Ericsson moves over from iSport to partner former Trident racer Stephane Richelmi.
British rising star James Calado will continue with ART Grand Prix, who last year raced under the Lotus guise, as he heads into his second season in the sport. GP3 graduate and 2012 runner-up Daniel Abt will race alongside him.
Johnny Cecotto joins Arden after racing for Barwa Addax and 2012 GP3 champion Mitch Evans moves up to partner the Venezuelan. Julian Leal and Fabio Leimer complete the Racing Engineering line-up. Meanwhile former DAMS driver Felipe Nasr joins Carlin alongside Brit Jolyon Palmer.
After a year away from GP2 Sam Bird returns to the series racing for new team RUSSIAN TIME (yes in capitals), who replace iSport International after the latter was shut down to avoid bankruptcy. Highly regarded Tom Dillmann will partner him at the brand new outfit.
Controversial driver Sergio Canamasas joins the Caterham GP2 squad alongside former HRT reserve driver Ma Qing Hua, who is now the reserve driver for the Caterham Formula 1 team. Jake Rosenzweig will partner former Carlin racer Rio Haryanto at the Addax team.
Rapax have enlisted the help of Stefano Coletti and Simon Trummer to help propel them to the front of the grid, whilst Trident choose Nathaneal Berthon and GP3 racer Kevin Ceccon to move them up the order.
New team Hilmer Motorsport replace the Ocean Racing Team in GP2 and have hired GP3 racer Connor Daly and series returnee Pal Varhaug in their first season in the series. The Venezuela GP Lazarus cars will be piloted by Rene Binder and Kevin Giovesi, with another new team MP Motorsport hiring Auto GP champion Adrian Quaife-Hobbs and Daniel De Jong.
So there are plenty of new faces and teams who all have a lot to prove. Returnee Sam Bird and GP3 graduates Ceccon, Daly, Abt and Evans all have a lot of work to do if they want to make an impact. James Calado, Marcus Ericson and co who have continued on in the series must make progress if they want to challenge for the title and move up to F1.The calendar comprimises of 11 rounds, kicking off in Malaysia this weekend and ending on the third of November in Abu Dhabi.
With Malaysia playing host to the season opener, it will be a tough challenge for all. With heat and humidity being high, tyre degradation will be key and there are plenty of opportunities to overtake at the Sepang Circuit, with its wide straights and big braking zones.
The season ahead looks to be extremely exciting, with the close racing we love to see almost guarenteed in GP2. With lots to learn and plenty to gain the pressure really is on.
There are plenty of people who could challenge for victories, so many predict it to be a very close year. Come November we will have an answer, but for now we must wait and see how it all pans out.
GP2 is definitely one to watch.
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