GP2 Series

GP2 Series, GP2 for short, is a form of motor racing introduced in 2005 following the discontinuation of the long-term Formula One 'feeder' sport, Formula 3000.

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 tyres supplier so that true driver ability is reflected.

The car

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

The Chassis

The 2006 specification GP2 Car has been designed by Dallara Automobili. The 2006 GP2 car features a biplane rear wing, with the triplane rear wing used in 2005 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 V8 engine features internal, cartographic and software upgrades designed to improve performance and fuel consumption.

The Gearbox

The 2006 gearbox has been manufactured by GearTek, and features an 8 positon barrel, with ratchet body and software upgrades, as well as a new transverse shafts fixing system designed to facilitate improved gear selection. ^*

The Tyres

The tyres supplied by Bridgestone for the 2006 season are slick, not featuring the groves seen in the 2005 season. Bridgestone will supply a soft, medium, and hard compound tire, with the tyre choice being made by Bridgestone and the GP2 Series prior to each event. The wet specification tyre remains the same as 2005.

Other Parts

Brembo is supplying a new development of monobloc brake calipers and disc bells, which are exclusive to GP2.

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.

Performance

According to research and pre-season stability tests, the 2005 model can go 0 to 200 km/h in 6.70 seconds. The car has a top speed of 320 km/h meaning it is the fastest single seater racing car, bar the Formula One models it is based on, out of the European racing series. The cars are predicted to be reliable and are within less than five seconds per lap of the typical Formula One car.

Race weekend

On Friday they have 30-minute free practice session and 30-minute qualifying session. Qualifying session decides grid order for Saturday's race which has length of 180 kilometres.

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

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

Point system

Pole for Saturday races: 2 points
Saturday races: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 points for top 8 finishers
Sunday races: 6-5-4-3-2-1 points for top 6 finishers
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 to be eligible to claim the fastest lap.

2005 Season

The 2005 Season was the first of the series, it succeeding the now defunct Formula 3000 championship. Arden International won the last 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 Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy. In the pre-season test to decide the inaugurual season's car numbers the iSport International and HiTech Racing teams showed a competitive edge. The latter team is 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.