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GP2 Series 2007 Season Preview |
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Monday, 09 April 2007 |
The GP2 Series enters its third year with expectation and anticipation at an all-time high. Following an incredible first two seasons of thrilling racing which has seen no fewer than 12 of our drivers graduate to Formula One seats, the eyes of the motorsport world will centre once again on the GP2 Series, as we search for the championship successor to Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, and ask if anybody can take the team title from ART Grand Prix.
SuperUnknown: The 2007 championship sees half the seats on the grid
filled by rookies, with ten drivers returning for a second season and
just three coming back for the third year. There is therefore a huge
spread of experience across the field, ranging from Xandi Negrao who
has taken part in every test and race in series history, to Ho-Pin Tung
who has yet to set foot in a GP2 Series car. More so than in any other
year, the championship appears to be totally open.
The champions ART Grand Prix have pinned their hopes on a line-up of di
Grassi and Ammermüller, while Negrao returns for his third season at
the newly named Minardi Piquet Sports with rookie Rodriguez alongside
him. Pre-season pace-setters iSport International return with Glock
again at the wheel of one of their cars, as Zuber joins the British
squad for a shot at glory. Arden International have made the bold step
of signing Zaugg and Senna, two talented rookies, to front their
campaign while FMS International have held onto young Turkish promise
Tahinci, pairing him with the hugely experienced Pizzonia.
Trident Racing are another team to opt for two rookies, fielding the
impressive Hirate and Maldonado. Racing Engineering have stuck with
Villa for a second year, who is joined by Jimenez as Super Nova
International field Filippi and Conway and aim for a return to winning
ways. At BCN Competicion it’s another double rookie line-up with
Yamamoto and Tung, while DPR also takes on two newbies in the form of
Soucek and Bakkerud. At Dams, Nakajima and Lapierre have looked swift
in testing while at Campos Grand Prix Pantano is gunning for the title
alongside Petrov. Former race winners Durango have signed GP2-returnee
Garcia, completing the field with Renault V6 Asia champ Chandhok.
The GP2 Series has once again evolved its car for the new season, with
Dallara coming up with a totally new aerodynamic package which has led
to improved downforce potential and variability, whilst also creating
stunning aesthetics on the car. With the continual improvements made to
the Renault 4l V8 engine added to the constant strength and reliability
of Bridgestone’s slick Potenza tyres, the series is again looking
towards another great season of racing.
This weekend’s racing in Bahrain will see all teams running the hard
compound of Bridgestone’s slick Potenza tyres. The last time we raced
here at our championship finale in 2005, we were racing on grooved
tyres, so this weekend promises to be a step into the unknown for
everyone. With a new car, new drivers and a new year raring to begin,
we have a season that promises an incredibly open race for the title
between a field of the best up-and-coming talents in the world.
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