Auto GP and FA1 merge

[Pontlieue]

After a difficult 2014 season, where both season struggled to attract double-digit grids, Auto GP and FA1 merge for the 2015 season.

[WSR Fan]

I think in the long term this is definetly the right decision - both struggled this year and FA1 was a pretty weak attempt at reviving the A1GP concept (a Swede driving for Mexico, Dani Clos racing for the UK for example?).
In the current climate 18 cars is pretty respectable and the prize F1 test will hopefully attract a stronger grid than we've had in recent years.

[gomick]

So if its a merger what will the new series be called?

[adam46]

Originally Posted by gomick

So if its a merger what will the new series be called?

It'll be Auto GP, seemingly. That's how the Autosport article made it seem.

[Formulahistory]

That's very good move from both series. But I doubt we will really see 18 cars.

Super Nova will field 2-3 cars
Euronova 2 cars
Virtuosi 2 cars
Zele 2 cars
MLR71 1 car
FMS 2 cars
Ghinzani 2 cars
MP 2 cars
Moma 1 car

I doubt Ibiza will really return to the series. I also doubt that Performance, Azerti, Kraan and Lazarus will jump to Auto GP from FA1 World Series.

[Marcus666]

In my dream world the serie would:

1. Rename it to "V8 Super Formula series"
2. Ditch the Lola chassis for the Swift FN09 chassis.
3. Allow flatplane V8 engines up to 3.4L with Turbo (limited to 10000 RPM).
Various engines available here: Zytek, Honda, Toyota, Judd.
4. Use Methanol/Ethanol instead of normal petrol.
5. Have a September to April schedule to allow Indycar and GP2 drivers to drive in the series.
6. Target power... ...800HP.

Simple idea.

[gomick]

18 cars every race - I reckon 14/15 max...

[Alessio]

Originally Posted by gomick

18 cars every race - I reckon 14/15 max...

They both averaged around 10 cars per race last season, so 18 cars isn't looking too far off the table

[NaBUru38]

Silverstone and Paul Ricard with WTCC, Zandvoort with DTM sound great. Now, I like Marrakech be replaced with Monza with Blancpain (also in April).

Originally Posted by Marcus666

Have a September to April schedule to allow Indycar and GP2 drivers to drive in the series.

That won't work, since the championship is held in Europe.

That's why the Formula E is held in Asia and Latin America these months.

[WSR Fan]

It'll be interesting to see if they announce any more details about the prize F1 test in the coming months. Specifically, which team it will be with and what car will be used - a current 2014/15 V6 Turbo one or maybe an older one from the V8 era?

[Formulahistory]

This could be the field

1) Francesco Dracone (Super Nova)?
2) Michela Cerruti (Super Nova)?
3) Ricardo Teixeira (Super Nova)?
4) Nikita Zlobin (Virtuosi)
5) Toby Sowery (Virtuosi)?
6) Shinya Michimi (Euronova?)?
7) Yoshitaka Kuroda (Euronova?)?
8) Salvatore de Plano (FMS)?
9) Loris Spinelli (FMS)?
10) Andrés Mendez (Zele)
11) Antônio Pizzonia (Zele)?
12) Michela La Rosa (MLR71/Euronova)?
13) Giuseppe Cipriani (Ibiza)?
14) Vittorio Ghirelli (Ibiza)?
15) Sebastian Balthasar (Manor MP)?
16) Raffaele Gianmaria (Manor MP)?
17) Luca Persiani (Manor MP)?
18) Mirko Bortolotti (Ghinzani?)?

[SpeedsportMag]

AutoGP needs to have at least 2 proven quick drivers as a reference for all the other less-known. Mirko Bortolotti doing full season would be perfect.
Pizzonia would be good too, but I doubt he will contest a full season.

[Juntos]

Let's see if our royal wannabe Coloni has the Grace to make it through the night.Test Days were not promising.

[qwertyuiop]

Originally Posted by Juntos

Let's see if our royal wannabe Coloni has the Grace to make it through the night.Test Days were not promising.

Hi Juntos,
Can you explain the above statement.

[SpeedsportMag]

Start of 2015 AutoGP season has been postponed: http://autogp.net/newssingola2_en.asp?c=223
They say "difficult political situation", but I wonder if the real problem is the number of entries ..?

[Formulahistory]

They promied 18 entries for each event, until now there are just two drivers confirmed...

[Motorsportfreak]

This Series is dead... i think they will cancel the whole Season... A shame for that noisy cars

[steve nielsen]

Originally Posted by SpeedsportMag

Start of 2015 AutoGP season has been postponed: http://autogp.net/newssingola2_en.asp?c=223
They say "difficult political situation", but I wonder if the real problem is the number of entries ..?

WTCC is still racing in Morocco , so I think there are other problems.

[Biscuits In A Red Bull]

AutoGP is an irrelevance in the whole scheme of things. It has no place on the pyramid and hasn't had an exciting talent for a few years now. The fact it's dead is inconvenient for the teams and organisers, but nobody else.

There you go, been said

[steve nielsen]

would'nt be much of a race with only 2 drivers

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

[olev]

Plus the car looks (and it is) way too old! I wonder how they can still find spare parts for it. All these aero upgrades aren't anything else but a way to have spare parts. The car was nice 10 years ago.

[Formulahistory]

Coloni is developping the car every year.

[steve nielsen]

Originally Posted by Formulahistory

Coloni is developping the car every year.

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.

[SpeedsportMag]

I loved watching this car when it was in A1GP, and I loved it in AutoGP races. In my opinion it has a great sound and it looks much better than the current GP2. Would be nice to see them again this year.

[SpeedsportMag]

Coloni has now announced that "Paolo Coloni Racing" will field 3 cars.