Auto GP and FA1 merge

[Formulahistory]

Then you know what's the case. They can't garantee 18 cars as they did after the merger with FA1 World Series was announced.

[steve nielsen]

Originally Posted by Formulahistory

Then you know what's the case. They can't garantee 18 cars as they did after the merger with FA1 World Series was announced.

there a many series with better cars to choose from for the drivers, so that is the problem: they have the cars but so fasr only 2 drivers who want to race those cars.

[kurski]

Originally Posted by steve nielsen

you can't keep developing a 10 year old car, fact is that the basic car is still the same as A1GP raced 10 years ago.

AutoGP should perhaps introduce the old Superleague Formula (Panoz DP09), WSR 3.5 (Dallara T08) or F2 (2009) cars, if AutoGP are unable to get completely new cars. I just thought if they want that current cars forced to change

[ivanalesi]

They failed to upgrade the most expensive part of the car - the engine

[chunterer]

But isn't it supposed to be a more cost effective series at this level?

Encouraging expensive upgrades isn't sensible when the organisers are trying to get teams and drivers interested.

[ger80]

Originally Posted by ivanalesi

They failed to upgrade the most expensive part of the car - the engine

Still sounds great

[ivanalesi]

If I remember correctly, even the sound cost a lot, they had trouble finding circuits because of the noise.

[tux]

Looks like the first round of the series will 02-03 May at Hungaroring, anyone have any idea on an entry?

[bella]

it'll be anyone who can't afford to buy the 3 spare seats in 3.5 i guess :/

Originally Posted by ivanalesi

If I remember correctly, even the sound cost a lot, they had trouble finding circuits because of the noise.

anything bigger than and including f3 has the same problems - the autogp engine isnt much different from the 3.5 one (if at all - any in-house nerds?). the only audible difference i've noticed is that the autogp version sounds like a bag of bolts in a washing machine on the downchange.

[steve nielsen]

Originally Posted by tux

Looks like the first round of the series will 02-03 May at Hungaroring, anyone have any idea on an entry?

according to the Wiki page only 5 drivers signed so far

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Auto_GP_season

[qwertyuiop]

Bella,
I am surprised at your comments about the noise. I've always thought the Auto GP cars are fantastic sounding machines. Maybe the odd Ferrari V 12 beats them but these machines sound awesome.

[bella]

don't get me wrong, it's the best engine note in motorsport at the moment. both of them sound great, and you haven't lived till you've heard the 3.5 version of the engine rattling round the buildings in monaco, or either of them yelling their way round monza.

but the downchange on the autogp version is just too agricultural for me, the 3.5 is a little more refined. you can still hear things happening and it's still angry, but it doesn't quite make your teeth hurt in the same way the autogp one does on that downchange.

i can see (hear?) the attraction of the autogp car though, it's very raw!

[Mekola]

Facu Regalia confirmed for FMS Racing this year. Somehow I'm not pleased with this...

[p-matt]

Originally Posted by Mekola

Facu Regalia confirmed for FMS Racing this year. Somehow I'm not pleased with this...

Don't worry. At the rate he's going he won't be driving for them as of tomorrow!

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by p-matt

Don't worry. At the rate he's going he won't be driving for them as of tomorrow!

[Formulahistory]

Originally Posted by Mekola

Facu Regalia confirmed for FMS Racing this year. Somehow I'm not pleased with this...

Regalia at FMS? Oh dear, then we won't see FMS racing on the opening round...

Regalia definitly is a strong title contender.

[Roninho]

So now we have 7 riders confirmde:
FMS Racing: Facu Regalia
Zele Racing: Luis Sa Silva
Zele Racing: Antonio Pizzonia
Zele Racing: Andres Mendez
Coloni Racing: Christof von Grunigen
Virtuosi Racing: Nikita Zlobin
Ibiza Racing Team: Giuseppe Cipriani

On Autogp's site it is mentioned that Coloni wants to race 3 cars and Ibiza 2.

Manor MP Motorsport, Supernova and Moma Motorsport all took part at the Vallelunga test but currently have no confirmed riders.

[Formulahistory]

So 11 drivers are missing yet. Very interesting that Salvatore De Plano will drive for FMS in Boss-GP this weekend!

Toby Sowery is very likely for Virtuosi

So that could it be:
1) Ricardo Teixeira (Super Nova)?
2) Luca Persiani (Super Nova)?
3) Nikita Zlobin (Virtuosi)
4) Toby Sowery (Virtuosi)?5) Facundo Regalia (FMS)
6) Loris Spinelli (FMS)?
7) Andrés Mendez (Zele)
8) Antônio Pizzonia (Zele)
9) Luis Sa Silva (Zele)
10) Giuseppe Cipriani (Ibiza)?
11) Vittorio Ghirelli (Ibiza)?
12) Sebastian Balthasar (Manor MP)?
13) Raffaele Gianmaria (Manor MP)?
14) Daniël de Jong (Manor MP)?
15) Christof von Grünigen (Coloni)
16) Michela La Rosa (Coloni)?
17) Andrea Roda (Coloni)?
18) Dani Clos (Moma)?

[Roninho]

What do you mean with 11 drivers are missing? Is there a contractual reason for 18?

[jondownunder]

Supposedly 18 cars are guaranteed:

The collaboration between De Jong and Auto GP promoter Enzo Coloni will guarantee at least an 18-car field in all the 2015 Auto GP events, which will be broadcasted, as in the past seasons, by International TV network Eurosport.

http://www.autogp.net/newssingola2_en.asp?c=214

[Roninho]

to be honest i read that more in the sense that since autogp and acceleration are not going head to head anymore there are at least 18 cars available to race.

If all 18 (or more) will actually participate will probably me more depending on pay drivers.

Anyway, a shame no engine manufacturer ever badged the engine of Euro3000/Autogp and threw some $ in this serie. A bit more promotion and an OEM putting some euros in for 2-3 established drivers on the grid would make a world of difference for this series i would imagine.

[steve nielsen]

11 cars and 9 drivers now on

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Auto_GP_season

a lot of car have disapeared from the list.

[W.A Trichlorostyrene]

Originally Posted by steve nielsen

11 cars and 9 drivers now on

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Auto_GP_season

a lot of car have disapeared from the list.

They've announced today that they've parted ways with FA1. Seems a bit ugly. Bad news for car counts.

http://www.autogp.net/newssingola2_en.asp?c=231

[Roninho]

Originally Posted by W.A Trichlorostyrene

They've announced today that they've parted ways with FA1. Seems a bit ugly. Bad news for car counts.

http://www.autogp.net/newssingola2_en.asp?c=231

It looks ugly indeed, by the looks of it there are not enough drivers with $ interested to fill the grid and ISRA/Henk de Jong is not going to fund some rides.

[Mekola]

The season is already on...