GP2: Rumours about teams (and drivers)?

Daisy · 31 Jul 2004, 20:27 (Ref:1052878)

Now their are rumours that some F3 teams will run in the Formula GP2 series next year, maybe we can make a list of teams which all are linked to the new series? So far I have 17 teams (a maximum of 15), but I have my doubts my some names.

* Arden Motorsport (F3000)
* Coloni Motorsport (F3000)
* Durango Formula (F3000)
* Team Astromega (F3000) ???
* Super Nova Racing (F3000)
* BCN Competion (F3000)
* Ma-Con Engineering (F3000) ???
* Signature Plus (Formula 3)
* Red Bull Junior Team (several) ???
* Comtec Racing (Formula Renault) ???
* Eurotek Motorsport (Formula Renault) ???
* Hi-Tech Racing (Formula 3) ???
* Jenzer Motorsport (Renault V6)
* Racing Engineering (former Nissan World Series) ???
* "Team Paul Jackson" (Former F3000)
* Piquet Sports (Formula 3)
* ASM Formula (Formula 3)
* Fortec Motorsport (Formula Renault/F3) ???

Maybe Coloni and Durango will run a 2nd team again (CMS and AEZ), but GP2 isn't that cheap.

And about the driver market: Adam Carroll seems to be one of the most wanted drivers

. So far, only Piquet looks like to be a serious candidate, altough I think will we see names like Doornbos (Arden), Lopez (Coloni), Green and Rosberg in the series next year.

flexible-flyer · 31 Jul 2004, 22:49 (Ref:1052935)

i would LOVE to see adam carroll out of f3 this year and into the gp2. if carroll stays in f3 for another year he can kiss goodbye to a future in a bigger series. he has to move on. piquet too, although he is much younger.

Kicking-back · 1 Aug 2004, 08:12 (Ref:1053105)

A few of the Dallara Nissan teams are interested in this - particularly the Pons team.

As for drivers - I know there are efforts to get some guys with F1 experience in as well as the up and comers - we may see the likes of Enrique Bernoldi do it.

Russfeld · 1 Aug 2004, 10:11 (Ref:1053171)

Who started the rumour that Adam Carroll is the most desired GP2 driver? I can think of probably 10 other guys.

Arden isnt happy with the cost, Astromega dont think they can afford it, Eurotek no longer exist, and Red Bull junior wont run a team but sponsor another one. I wish they'd run their own team though, because it means there's two extra cars on the grid.

Daisy · 1 Aug 2004, 10:28 (Ref:1053183)

I don't know, I got it from DanFlag's site.

But it's strange to hear so many teams are linked to series. It costs more than F3000, and nobody was interested in that.

Kicking-back · 1 Aug 2004, 11:06 (Ref:1053201)

It doesn't cost more than F3000.

While the cars are slightly more expensive, the running costs (particularly parts) are cheaper - which will add up to a significant saving over three years.

GP2 will also be properly managed, marketed and promoted, which F3000 never has been.

Also factor in the demise of Dallara Nissan which will help things too.

kickstart · 1 Aug 2004, 12:05 (Ref:1053249)

I would assume that with all the hype about GP2 that we would be likely to see full grids for the first season or two at least.
From speaking to a friend involved in one of the teams that hopes to run in GP2 next year it seems apparent that a large number of teams are interested. However no-one is very sure how many drivers have full budgets for next season yet.Given the way the payments for the cars are to be made (eg the date for 1st payment) I think that we will only have a clear picture once cheques are actually written and cashed, as there is bound to be a reserve list of teams if the accepted teams cannot raise the cash.
My guess for drivers will be:

Piquet (only Junior)
Carroll
Stoddart
Lauda
Rosberg
Viso
I also think that we may also see Scott Mansell driving for someone.

sceptic · 1 Aug 2004, 13:35 (Ref:1053279)

Quote:

Originally posted by Russfeld
Who started the rumour that Adam Carroll is the most desired GP2 driver? I can think of probably 10 other guys.

I've heard that three different team managers want to test Adam over the winter.

Kicking-back · 1 Aug 2004, 15:04 (Ref:1053318)

That may be true, but he's not the "most desired" driver.

I'd have thought a Jamie Green or James Rossiter would be higher on most team bosses wish lists.

kickstart · 1 Aug 2004, 15:29 (Ref:1053333)

What sort of budgets are being quoted for a title shot

Kicking-back · 1 Aug 2004, 16:12 (Ref:1053361)

Half a million pounds

Russfeld · 1 Aug 2004, 16:27 (Ref:1053369)

I hope you have a sponsor on the team already...

Mr Jinxx · 1 Aug 2004, 23:28 (Ref:1053611)

Much more than half a million for a title shot, you can be sure of that. But it all depends how it is to be marketed. Without that information, the drivers cannot try and attract sponsorship to do it.

flor · 1 Aug 2004, 23:53 (Ref:1053628)

well i guess that one of the main problems is that the teams have to buy the cars until october

mountainstar · 2 Aug 2004, 06:22 (Ref:1053695)

I've heard more like a million pounds a year for one car, not half a mil.

superMINI · 2 Aug 2004, 08:43 (Ref:1053774)

Stoddart as in Suzy?

Interesting.

A quick search of the net brings up nothing official about GP2. As someone said, how can drivers set about getting sponsorship if there's no information about the series to reassure sponsors it'll be as big and well managed as is being purported?

It all seems very vague to me. Another, bigger playground for the sons of millionaires, pricing the talent out of the picture?

Russfeld · 2 Aug 2004, 09:05 (Ref:1053791)

That could be said of all racing, not just GP2

Kicking-back · 2 Aug 2004, 09:11 (Ref:1053798)

A lot more information has been supplied to the teams from Bruno Michel than has been published at this stage.

Comtec Renault · 2 Aug 2004, 10:20 (Ref:1053874)

The very same Suzie ! think about it what can f3 give her, its on the way down like Ford when GP2 is on the up. she can do 2 years and her backers will get some value for the money they give her,

Mathias · 2 Aug 2004, 11:15 (Ref:1053929)

I heard Carlin were pretty likely to do GP2.

Something Half-Nelson Piquet said the other week suggested to me that Team Piquet might consider a joint venture with another team in GP2, which would be interesting.

DanFlag · 2 Aug 2004, 11:58 (Ref:1053969)

Quote:

Originally posted by Daisy
I don't know, I got it from DanFlag's site.

But it's strange to hear so many teams are linked to series. It costs more than F3000, and nobody was interested in that.

I took the story at Formula-3000.net, why, it's not true?

Kicking-back · 2 Aug 2004, 12:47 (Ref:1054008)

Quote:

Originally posted by Mathias
I heard Carlin were pretty likely to do GP2.

Apparently the plan is for Carlin's Dallara Nissan team to do it.

**bella** · 2 Aug 2004, 13:15 (Ref:1054051)

Quote:

Originally posted by DanFlag
I took the story at Formula-3000.net, why, it's not true?

when adam has money it'll be true. until then it's just like asking a team who they thing is alright at driving...

Kicking-back · 2 Aug 2004, 13:24 (Ref:1054066)

Unless a manufacturer picks him up.

If you were a manufacturer would he be a driver you were interested in?

Suze · 2 Aug 2004, 13:28 (Ref:1054073)

Possibly. Depends who else I was looking at too!

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