2013 GP2 Silly Season

[ivanalesi]

I think it all says For Sale Great job by Sims after a year spent with roof on his head.

[Go_For_Pole]

Busy market then, Coloni is for sale too Crazy budgets taking their toll

[bella]

Originally Posted by ivanalesi

Great job by Sims after a year spent with roof on his head.

seconded. i wonder what ericsson's going to end up doing?

[Mekola]

Again Ocean almost no testing, like the previous test. Are they only on the collective tests to comply with the regulations? Do they are in critical situation???

[Mr Pink]

Originally Posted by bella

seconded. i wonder what ericsson's going to end up doing?

If you're thinking about him testing both FR3.5 and GP2 I'm pretty shure he's said that his aim is GP2 and that the FR tests were to help P1 with tire-testing and setups.

[verde]

Originally Posted by Mekola

Again Ocean almost no testing, like the previous test. Are they only on the collective tests to comply with the regulations? Do they are in critical situation???

Probably. And the same applies to Coloni, which is attending all the post-season sessions because of contractual issues.

I predict GP2 with only eleven teams in 2013. They will then try to attract two new teams for 2014, when the current contract between the series and the teams expires.

That bothers me a lot. The ideal solution would be allowing everybody to get into GP2 and then let Darwin laws apply to the smallest or poorest teams. So we wouldn't have a DPR, a team willing to stay, being ruled out while Ocean is kept.

[BackmarkerUK]

Originally Posted by Mekola

Again Ocean almost no testing, like the previous test. Are they only on the collective tests to comply with the regulations? Do they are in critical situation???

Ramon Pineiro says they have no money. One less team on the grid next season, maybe. Hopefully some new entrants will come out of the woodwork, it's difficult work finding any info on who might be interested.

[Juntos]

Will Bruno Michel open the legs and let "The Bandit" (aka PT) join the series to fill up the grid? Less cars, less income. Uncle Bernie will dislike.

[BtccLee]

What about the calender next year. Without Valencia will we see a race outside Europe or at the French GP if it happens...

[BackmarkerUK]

Originally Posted by BtccLee

What about the calender next year. Without Valencia will we see a race outside Europe or at the French GP if it happens...

Maybe back to back races at the Hungaroring and Monza? Or maybe supporting GT1 when F1 is in Canada/when the German Grand Prix should be on?

EDIT: D'oh, didn't realise GT1 was folding. Supporting GT3 then?

[Francis Albert]

Or finishing the season in Abu Dhabi?

[skells22]

New GP2 team just said about, MP motorsport will be on the GP2 grid and already got someone in a seat De Jong has been signed by said team

[W.A Trichlorostyrene]

Also, Carlin signed Felipe Nasr.

[p-matt]

Originally Posted by W.A Trichlorostyrene

Also, Carlin signed Felipe Nasr.

Very interesting. He'll be a title contender for sure. I got the distinct impression that it was the Carlin's team's engineering rather than Chilton that was behind their results last year.

[bella]

i was under the same impression, particularly that much of the resources of the team were directed towards that series. completely understandable, considering the ownership and driver situation. regardless of that, great signing for both team and driver.

[BackmarkerUK]

It will be interesting to see if, as is rumoured, Marussia's link-up with Carlin is not going to continue in 2013. If it continues, Nasr has a clear route to Formula One. If it doesn't continue, Nasr probably has more options, but needs to have a good season to attract the attention of F1 teams. Also, how good will Carlin be if they do not have Marussia money coming in? Presumably Nasr's Banco do Brasil money will be an adequate replacement.

[Latino]

Originally Posted by BackmarkerUK

It will be interesting to see if, as is rumoured, Marussia's link-up with Carlin is not going to continue in 2013. If it continues, Nasr has a clear route to Formula One. If it doesn't continue, Nasr probably has more options, but needs to have a good season to attract the attention of F1 teams. Also, how good will Carlin be if they do not have Marussia money coming in? Presumably Nasr's Banco do Brasil money will be an adequate replacement.

I don't believe there was any money at all from Marussia into Carlin so can't think it will make that much of a difference if they drop the Marussia livery in 2013. Be interesting to see how Nasr does though, and also who his team mate is. Could be an interesting year in GP2, especially if Calado comes back and Abt and Evans step up from GP3. Anyone any idea who is replacing the departing Coloni team though?

[Latino]

Originally Posted by skells22

New GP2 team just said about, MP motorsport will be on the GP2 grid and already got someone in a seat De Jong has been signed by said team

Oppps sorry, didn't see this post, which answers the question re Coloni!

[p-matt]

Originally Posted by Latino

Anyone any idea who is replacing the departing Coloni team though?

MP Motorsport. Daniel de Jong has been signed in one seat, and they're looking for an experienced GP2 racer in the other seat. Filippi potentially, as he was testing the Coloni alongside DdJ.

[BackmarkerUK]

Originally Posted by Latino

I don't believe there was any money at all from Marussia into Carlin so can't think it will make that much of a difference if they drop the Marussia livery in 2013.

Just a thought I had today: MP Motorsport have (had?) a connection with Manor in Formula Renault, so if Marussia fail to renew the deal with Carlin they could instead link up with MP Motorsport. But I don't see it having much effect beyond livery, as if Chilton moves to F1, I don't see any of Marussia Manor's other drivers making the step up to GP2 (except maybe Ellinas).

[Hawkwood]

Originally Posted by BackmarkerUK

Just a thought I had today: MP Motorsport have (had?) a connection with Manor in Formula Renault, so if Marussia fail to renew the deal with Carlin they could instead link up with MP Motorsport. But I don't see it having much effect beyond livery, as if Chilton moves to F1, I don't see any of Marussia Manor's other drivers making the step up to GP2 (except maybe Ellinas).

It would only need Ellinas, for example, to step up, as Haryanto is likely to stay surely?

[BackmarkerUK]

Originally Posted by Ostrogothicus

It would only need Ellinas, for example, to step up, as Haryanto is likely to stay surely?

It would only need Ellinas because MP Motorsport have already got one driver sorted, but I think that Ellinas would benefit more from a second year in GP3 where he can challenge for the title. But I suppose Haryanto would move to MP Motorsport, if Marussia went from Carlin to MP, as he's got more association with Marussia and Manor. Assuming he doesn't go to DAMS.

[Hawkwood]

Originally Posted by BackmarkerUK

It would only need Ellinas because MP Motorsport have already got one driver sorted, but I think that Ellinas would benefit more from a second year in GP3 where he can challenge for the title. But I suppose Haryanto would move to MP Motorsport, if Marussia went from Carlin to MP, as he's got more association with Marussia and Manor. Assuming he doesn't go to DAMS.

Sorry I meant Ellinas and Haryanto at the Marussia-backed team, whoever that will be.

[Go_For_Pole]

I would think that Tio will stay in Manor's GP3 to go for the title. Besides the kid only has three seasons in single seaters, no need to hurry him.

[BtccLee]

With France out but Turkey maybe in, I think the calender will look very similar to this year (-Valencia +Turkey)