2012 GP2 Silly Season

[mllevy]

Nasr signed to DAMS

[p-matt]

A much needed quality signing for the series

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by p-matt

A much needed quality signing for the series

Absolutely, his camp had been fairly quiet over the winter apart from Daytona, but I did expect him to go 3.5, maybe because most attention seemed to be going in that direction.

With DAMS being back to something like their old selves with Grosjean in the last couple of years, if he can adapt quickly he could be a contender for the title?

[bella]

that's a good driver pairing too, if valsecchi pulls his finger out. it'll be very interesting to see how nasr adapts to gp2 - generally most of the bf3 graduates have gone to fr3.5 in the past few years.

in fact, when was the last one to straight to gp2? is there someone really obvious?

[p-matt]

Quite possibly. It's easily the strongest driver lineup DAMS have fielded in their history in GP2. At least they are building on their title momentum last year unlike Rapax in 2011 and Addax in 2012.

[WSR Fan]

Originally Posted by bella

in fact, when was the last one to straight to gp2? is there someone really obvious?

The last I can think of is Max Chilton - 4th in 2009 BF3 then joined Ocean Racing Technology in 2010.

[strider]

I rate Nasr so highly that I expect him to challenge for the title, rookie or not. Look how well he adapted to the Daytona prototypes in the Rolex Daytona 24 Hours. A pace-setter from the moment he stepped into what was a totally different car and a podium at the end in what was not one of the latest cars.

I didn't know for sure that the DAMS signing was coming, but I was talking to a friend about what he might do on Tuesday. He thought GP2 and we worked out that DAMS might be the team because of their connection with Lotus and the fact that Steve Robertson manages both Felipe and Kimi. Wheels within wheels.

[strider]

Originally Posted by bella

in fact, when was the last one to straight to gp2? is there someone really obvious?

Lewis Hamilton and Nelson Piquet Jr? Maybe Rosberg and Kovalainen as well.

[bella]

Originally Posted by WSR Fan

The last I can think of is Max Chilton - 4th in 2009 BF3 then joined Ocean Racing Technology in 2010.

Originally Posted by strider

Lewis Hamilton and Nelson Piquet Jr? Maybe Rosberg and Kovalainen as well.

good points both! what about british f3 champion, would we be looking back in f3000 times?

(where's statto, er, chunty when you need him? )

[WSR Fan]

Originally Posted by bella

good points both! what about british f3 champion, would we be looking back in f3000 times?

Mike Conway - 2006 BF3 champion, 2007 GP2 Series with Super Nova

[bella]

very impressive! (doh! blatently obvious answer fail)

(are you available for hire for pub quizzes? )

[chunterer]

Statto?!? Ha ha...

Yeah Conway was the last one. Crikey, time was when the Brit F3 champ nearly always stepped up to this level!

Kovy did 3.5 before GP2 as well.

[strider]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Kovy did 3.5 before GP2 as well.

I did wonder about that when I suggested his name. He and Fabio Carbone were Renault drivers in British F3. One year Heikki won the support race at the British Grand Prix, but Fabio had his revenge a couple of weeks later by winning the Marlboro Masters.

[Valker]

Originally Posted by bella

it'll be very interesting to see how nasr adapts to gp2 - generally most of the bf3 graduates have gone to fr3.5 in the past few years.

in fact, when was the last one to straight to gp2?

Straight from where; BF3 or Formula Carlin?

[Peralta]

Put down Razia for Arden. Done deal.

[skells22]

I think this was coming. new team Lazarus replaces Super Nova. any idea who going to drive for this new team.

[bella]

the "venezuela" in the team name will probably tell you a lot about potential drivers.

http://tentenths.com/news/showentry.php?e=2810

[Daisy]

Well, Rodolfo Gonzalez seems a safe bet, but who else? Maldonado is in F1, Viso is likely to do another year in Indycar (and furthermore, GP2 would be a step back), who else do we have?

[kerrmanningjarv]

Originally Posted by Daisy

Well, Rodolfo Gonzalez seems a safe bet, but who else? Maldonado is in F1, Viso is likely to do another year in Indycar (and furthermore, GP2 would be a step back), who else do we have?

And Cecotto is taken by Addax already let's not forget. How about Milka Duno? Or maybe they'll go for someone from elsewhere in South America - there's plenty of Brazilians to choose from (Luiz Razia for instance) and Gabby Chaves of Columbia seemed to be a hot prospect a few years back although his GP3 record is nothing special.

[chunterer]

A safe and quick pair of hands for the second drive I expect.

Sam Bird anyone?

[cappra250]

6 days to the first test of 2012 and 11 seats to be yet confirmed...

[Go_For_Pole]

Looking for 22 million Euros worth of budgets, easy

[skells22]

Lazarus has signed Fabrizio Crestani.
We are now down to 10 seats & 5 days before testing

[cappra250]

Some drivers are about to be confirmed...
Chilton and Haryanto at Carlin and Van der Garde at Caterham.

[chunterer]

So only half a dozen chances remain for some quality talent to sign up.