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Thursday, 18 August 2005 |
The GP2 series will be racing on a brand new track this weekend. The Istanbul Park circuit in Istanbul, Turkey, was completed just weeks ago and plays host to its first international motorsport event over the course of the next three days. Everyone arrives here somewhat in the dark as to the characteristics of the track, which will only become clear after the first running on Friday. But with the circuit still very dusty, and thunderstorms forecast, the characteristics look set to change from session to session. What will not change however is the layout of this flowing circuit. Designed by famed F1-track guru Hermann Tilke, Istanbul Park promises to be a major test for all involved in the GP2 series. The 5.338km of asphalt is wide enough to allow its fair share of overtaking, as it sweeps around the hilly Turkish landscape. It has been compared to Spa-Francorchamps and Sepang, but after their track walks this morning, all of our drivers are in agreement that this new circuit will stand by itself as a superb challenge for man and machine. They are all eager to get out on track tomorrow, and put themselves to the test at this new venue.
What about the championship? The GP2 series enters the final third of its inaugural season this weekend, and with just four rounds and eight races to go, there is all to play for. Heikki Kovalainen leads the drivers’ championship standings on 79 points, ahead of Nico Rosberg on 72. Scott Speed is still in the hunt for the title in third on 50 points, as are Alex Pr
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