GP2 Series

The GP2 Series, GP2 for short, is a form of open wheel motor racing introduced in 2005 following the discontinuation of the long-term Formula One feeder series, Formula 3000. The format was conceived by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, while Ecclestone also has the rights to the name GP1.

Designed to make racing affordable for the teams and to make it the perfect training ground for life in Formula One, GP2 has made it mandatory for all of the teams to use the same chassis, engine and tyre supplier so that true driver ability is reflected. All but three races have taken place as support races at Formula One race weekends to boost the series' profile, to give drivers experience on the Grand Prix environment, and to take advantage of the infrastructure (marshalls, medical facilities etc.) in place for a Formula One event. GP2 mainly races on European circuits, but has appearances on other international race tracks as well with their most recent races in the at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia and the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore.

Many drivers have used GP2 as a stepping stone into Formula One. The 2005 Champion Nico Rosberg was hired by the Williams team for the 2006 F1 campaign, 2006 GP2 winner Lewis Hamilton made the transition to F1 the following year with McLaren and the 2007 Champion Timo Glock to Toyota for the 2008 F1 season. 2009 GP2 champion Nico Hülkenberg moved up to a Williams F1 race driver in the 2010 Formula 1 season. In addition, all runners up—Heikki Kovalainen (2005), Nelson Piquet, Jr. (2006) and Lucas di Grassi (2007)—became Renault F1 test drivers the following year. All three earned F1 seats, but Piquet Jr has since been replaced. Karun Chandhok, Bruno Senna and Vitaly Petrov were also granted an F1 seat in 2010. For 2011 Pastor Maldonado was granted the hot seat at Williams due to his sponsorship from Petróleos de Venezuela and the fact he was GP2 champion. This meant that Nico Hülkenberg was deposed by Williams. Sergio Pérez was given the drive alongside Kamui Kobayashi, another former GP2 driver and GP2 Asia Series winner, at Sauber. Jérôme d'Ambrosio got his Virgin Racing drive a few days before Christmas 2010, the Yorkshire team deposed Lucas di Grassi for the driver who often drove in Friday Practice sessions throughout the season's second half.

During 2011 it was announced that in 2012 the GP2 and GP2 Asia Series would combine to make a single, longer GP2 series.

GP2 Series cars
The GP2 Series car is used by all of the teams, and features a Dallara chassis powered by a V8 Renault engine and Pirelli tyres.

Chassis

 * The 2009 specification GP2 Car has been designed by Dallara Automobili. The 2006 GP2 car featured a biplane rear wing, with the triplane rear wing used in previous seasons only to be used at the Monaco race. The front upper and lower wishbones have been reinforced, as have the front and rear suspension uprights.

Engine

 * The 4 litre Renault V8 engine features internal, cartographic and software upgrades designed to improve performance and fuel consumption. The engine produces 612 hp and 500Nm torque @ 8000 rpm. GP2 Series engines are rev-limited to 10,000 rpm and need a rebuild after 4000 to 4500 km. The valve train is a dual overhead camshaft configuration with four valves per cylinder. The crankshaft is made of alloy steel, with five main bearing caps. The pistons are forged aluminum alloy, while the connecting rods are machined alloy steel. The electronic engine management system is supplied by Magneti Marelli, firing a CDI ignition system. The engine lubrication is an Elf Aquitaine dry sump type, cooled by a single water pump.

Gearbox

 * The 2009 gearbox has been manufactured by GearTek and features an 8-position barrel with ratchet body and software upgrades as well as a new transverse shafts fixing system designed to facilitate improved gear selection.

Tyres

 * Similar to the 2011 change for Formula 1, Pirelli is now the sole tyre supplier for the series. The GP2 series runs the same compounds as F1.

Other parts
The car also features internal cooling upgrades, a new water radiator, radiator duct, oil/water heat exchanger, modified oil degazer, new oil and water pipes and new heat exchanger fixing brackets.
 * Brembo is supplying monobloc brake calipers and disc bells, which are exclusive to GP2.

Performance
The 2011 model can go 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 6.6 seconds. The car has a top speed of 332 km/h (206 mph) with the Monza aero configuration.
 * According to research and pre-season stability tests, the 2005 model can go 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 6.7 seconds. The car has a top speed of 320 km/h (198 mph) meaning that it is the fastest single seater racing car behind Formula One and Indy cars.

2005–2007 Specifications

 * Chassis: Dallara GP2/05
 * Engine: Mecachrome 4.0 litre 600 bhp, 10.000 rpm limit
 * Gearbox: 6 - speed hydraulic paddle shift actuation
 * Electronics: Magneti Marelli
 * Bodywork: Carbon prepreg with Nomex Honeycomb
 * Dampers: Koni 4-way
 * Rims: O.Z. 13 x 11.75 front, 13 x 13.75 rear
 * Brakes: Brembo on Hitco Carbon
 * Weight: 585 kg (without driver)

2008–2010 Specifications
2008 saw GP2 change its chassis as Dallara built the 2nd generation chassis for all the teams.


 * Chassis: Dallara GP2/08 Survival cell – Sandwich Carbon/aluminium honeycomb structure made by Dallara. Front and rear wing – Carbon structures made by Dallara. Bodywork – Carbon – Kevlar honeycomb structures made by Dallara.
 * Engine Displacement: Mecachrome built Renault  (245 in³) DOHC V8.
 * Gearbox: GearTek 6-speed Manual transmission|paddle shift gearbox and one reverse.
 * Power Output:  @ 10,000 rpm.
 * Fuel: Elf 100 RON, no refuelling.
 * Fuel Tank: FIA homologated rubber safety tank.
 * Fuel Capacity: 33 US gal (125 L; 27 imp gal).
 * Fuel Delivery: Fuel injection.
 * Aspiration: Naturally aspirated.
 * Electronics/ECU: Magneti Marelli.
 * Length: 4,867 mm (192 in).
 * Height:  1,047 mm (41 in) (including FOM roll hoop camera).
 * Width:  1,805 mm (71 in) (bodywork 1,500 mm (59 in)).
 * Wheelbase: 3,119 mm (123 in).
 * Weight: 688 kg (1,517 lb) (without driver).
 * Steering: Rack and pinion and manual, power assisted banned.
 * Drivetrain: 2WD only.
 * Brakes: Hitco racing.
 * Tires: Pirelli P Zero racing slicks and rain tires.
 * Wheel rims: O.Z. Racing.
 * Safety equipment: Hans device, Seat belt 6-point supplied by Sabelt.
 * Prohibited: Traction Control

2011+ Specifications
A typical GP2 Series car (driven by Giedo van der Garde), during 2011 GP2 Series season|2011 season at Silverstone Circuit 2011 saw GP2 change its chassis as Dallara built the 3rd generation chassis for all the teams.


 * Chassis: Dallara GP2/11 Survival cell – Sandwich Carbon/aluminum honeycomb structure made by Dallara. Front and rear wing – Carbon structures made by Dallara. Bodywork – Carbon – Kevlar honeycomb structures made by Dallara.
 * Engine Displacement: Mecachrome built Renault 4.0 L (4,000 cc) (245 in³) DOHC V8.
 * Gearbox: GearTek 6-speed paddle shift gearbox and one reverse.
 * Power Output:   612 hp (456 kW; 620 PS) @ 10,000 rpm.
 * Fuel: FIA, no refuelling.
 * Fuel Tank: FIA homologated rubber safety tank.
 * Fuel Capacity: 40 US gal (151 L; 33 imp gal).
 * Fuel Delivery: Fuel injection.
 * Aspiration: Naturally aspirated.
 * Electronics/ECU: Magneti Marelli.
 * Length: 5,065 mm (199 in).
 * Height:  1,072 mm (42 in) (including FOM roll hoop camera).
 * Width: 1,800 mm (71 in).
 * Wheelbase: 3,120 mm (123 in).
 * Weight:   688 kg (1,517 lb) (Driver onboard).
 * Steering: Rack and pinion and manual, power assisted banned.
 * Drivetrain: 2WD only.
 * Brakes: Hitco racing.
 * Tires: Pirelli P Zero GP2 series specific slick and wet.
 * Wheel rims: O.Z. Racing, Magnesium rims, 13” x 12” front and 13” x 13.7” rear, F1 standard wheel dimensions
 * Safety equipment: HANS device, Seat belt 6-point supplied by Sabelt.
 * Prohibited: Traction Control

Race weekend
On Friday, drivers have a 30-minute free practice session and a 30-minute qualifying session. The qualifying session decides the grid order for Saturday's race which has a length of 180 kilometres.

During Saturday's race, each driver has to make a pit stop in which at least two tyres have to be changed.

On Sunday there is a sprint race of 120 kilometres. The grid is decided by the Saturday result with top 8 being reversed, so the driver who finished 8th on Saturday will start from pole position and the winner will start from 8th place.

2005–2011

 * Pole for Saturday races: 2 points

With this points system, the most number of points anyone can score in one round is 20 by claiming pole position, winning both races with the fastest lap in each race. This feat has only been achieved twice in GP2 racing's short history. By Brazilian Nelson Piquet, Jr. in the 9th round of the 2006 season in Hungaroring, Hungary and by German Nico Hülkenberg in the 5th round of the 2009 season in Nürburgring.
 * Fastest lap: 1 point in each race. Driver recording fastest lap has to drive 90% of race laps. The driver must now also start the race from his allocated grid position and as of 2008 must finish in the top ten of the race to be eligible for the fastest lap point.

2012 onwards
From the 2012 season the GP2 series will change its scoring system. Feature races will be run with a scoring system similar to the one used in Formula One:

The top eight finishers in a sprint race receive points as follows:

Pole position for the feature race will now be worth 4 points, and 2 points will be given for the fastest lap in each race. Therefore, the maximum number of points a driver can score at any round will be 48.

Drivers graduated to F1
At the start of the 2013 Formula One season 24 out of 125 drivers have raced or will race in Formula 1 (19.2%).

Notes: Sakon Yamamoto raced in F1 with Super Aguri F1 in 2006. For the next year, he moved down to GP2, before returning to F1 with Spyker F1| mid-season.
 * Drivers are listed by their last year in GP2 Series. Usually they started in Formula One at the start of the following season.
 * Gold background denotes GP2 champion.
 * Drivers marked with a † started Formula One on mid-season.
 * Glock had four Grand Prix starts in 2004 for Jordan Grand Prix; his first Formula One team since driving in GP2 2006–07 was Toyota.
 * Romain Grosjean returned to GP2 after losing his 2010 Formula One seat. He signed a contract with Lotus Renault for 2012 and returned to Formula One.
 * 2008 GP2 champion Giorgio Pantano drove the 2004 season in Formula One for Jordan before driving in GP2. He had previously driven in F3000.

2005
The 2005 GP2 Series season was the first of the series, it succeeding the now defunct Formula 3000 championship. Arden International won the last International Formula 3000 F3000 titles, thus starting as one of the favourites.

The 2005 season began on April 23, 2005 on the weekend of the San Marino Grand Prix at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy. In the pre-season test to decide the inaugural season's car numbers, the iSport International and HiTech/Piquet Racing teams showed a competitive edge. The latter team was largely funded by the former Formula One world champion Nelson Piquet in order to aid his son's route to the premier Formula sport.

The championship lasted 23 rounds, two races occurring a weekend with the exception of a single race in Monaco. It was won by German Nico Rosberg, who was subsequently hired by the WilliamsF1 Team.

It was also notable for being the only season that GP2 used grooved tyres like F1 cars rather than slicks.

2006
The2006 GP2 Series season was the second of the series. After championship holder Nico Rosberg's move to the Williams F1 team, and runner-up Heikki Kovalainen's move to be reserve driver at Renault F1, Nelson Piquet, Jr. in the Piquet Sports car was installed as the early title favourite, though the ART Grand Prix cars of Alexandre Prémat and Lewis Hamilton also had fairly short odds, given ART were reigning champions.

For the first time, the season began on a calendar separate to the 2006 Formula One season calendar, starting out at the Circuit de Valencia, in Valencia, Spain, Spain on April 8, 2006 with Piquet, Jr. the first victor.

Piquet raced into an early lead, before Lewis Hamilton came back into the fray. A dominant run by the Briton took him into the championship lead, before the balance came back into Piquet Jr.'s favour.

After an exciting championship battle lasting 20 races, Hamilton claimed the title in the penultimate race, at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, in Monza, Italy, and celebrated with a second place in the 21st and final round.

2007
The 2007 GP2 Series season began on 13 April at the Bahrain International Circuit, and completed on 30 September at the Circuit de Valencia. Eventual champion Timo Glock was a driving force throughout the series, but came under stiff competition from Lucas di Grassi in the closing stages- however, with a convincing win at the last race in Valencia, Glock sealed the championship.

2008
The 2008 GP2 Series season featured the same teams as in previous seasons from April 2008. It was won by Giorgio Pantano for Racing Engineering, with Bruno Senna finishing distant runner-up.

2009
The 2009 season began and ended on the Iberian peninsula, with the first race weekend at Circuit de Catalunya (9–10 May) and ending in the stand-alone headline event (i.e. not supporting a corresponding Formula One event) at Portugal's Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (19–20 September). The title was won by German rookie Nico Hülkenberg at the penultimate round of the championship at Monza, the first time the series had been won before the final round.

2010
2010 season contained ten rounds, all of which were supporting F1 World Championship. The series started in May at Catalunya and concluded at Abu Dhabi in November.

Pastor Maldonado won the title in his fourth season in the series. He won a record-breaking six successive feature races mid-season. Sergio Pérez was his closest rival, but the title was sealed already in the penultimate round at Monza.

2011
2011 season contained nine rounds and a final tenth round with no points, all of which were supporting F1 World Championship. The series started in May at Istanbul and concluded at Abu Dhabi in November.

The championship was won by reigning GP2 Asia champion Romain Grosjean at the penultimate round of the series. Following a three-year cycle, the previous GP2 chassis was replaced by a brand new car, the GP2/11, built by Italian racing car manufacturer Dallara. The series will change tyre supplier from Bridgestone to Pirelli for 2011–13. The 2011 season saw the addition of two new teams to the grid, Carlin and Team AirAsia. Meanwhile, DPR was not selected to continue in the series.

2012
The 2012 season contained twelve rounds, eleven of which supported the F1 World Championship and one stand alone round in Bahrain. The series started on March 24 in Malaysia and concluded in Singapore on September 23. Davide Valsecchi (DAMS) won the title by 25 points from Arden's Luiz Razia, with Lotus GP's Esteban Gutierrez third.

For the 2012 season, Team Lazarus replaced Super Nova Racing using the name "Venezuela GP Lazarus". Lotus ART was renamed "Lotus Grand Prix", reflecting their increased relationship with title sponsor 'Lotus Cars'.

2013
The 2013 GP2 season will consist of 11 rounds, all supporting the F1 World Championship events. The series started in Malaysia on March 23, and will conclude in Abu Dhabi on November 3.

For the 2013 season, iSport International, Ocean Racing Technology and Scuderia Coloni were replaced by Russian Time, Hilmer Motorsport and MP Motorsport respectively. Lotus GP reconverted back to ART Grand Prix before the start of the season.

Television rights
The television rights are held by the Formula One Management, which also manages the rights to Formula One. In the UK, races were being shown on Setanta Sports until the channel ceased broadcasting in June 2009. Setanta took up coverage of the series from ITV, who had shown GP2 in all four seasons to date (highlights only for 2005–2007, live coverage for 2008). However, by the German GP, Setanta GB had gone into administration so UK viewers could have been left without a GP2 broadcaster, but Eurosport subsequently picked up the UK rights to GP2 for the next two and a half years. Setanta Ireland continues to operate for the Irish market and retain GP2 rights for that country. The races are also broadcast in Canada and USA on SPEED channel before the Formula One races, while in Brazil its broadcast by cable TV channel SportTV, in Venezuela are broadcast by MeridianoTV; in the rest of Latin America, the races from 2012 are shown on delayed in South Cone and live in North Cone on Fox Sports LA and live on SPEED. About other European countries: In Spain, races are broadcasted by MarcaTV, Antena 3 (Spain) and TV3 (Catalonia)|TV3. In Germany PayTV Channel Sky broadcast all races Live and in Finland Pay-TV-channel MTV3 MAX broadcasts all races and qualifying live. RAI broadcasts only the races. In February 2012, it was announced that Sky Sports F1 had secured the broadcasting rights to the GP2 series and will broadcast every race live in the United Kingdom and Ireland.