Driver announcement later today.. It's big, it's not a huge surprise, but it's great for the Series. Speculate now and find out soon!

http://twitter.com/feeder_series

Piquet or Kovalainen.

"Big"? What is "big" for them?

This is a tough one to guess. Someone from a different kind of racing (touring cars, rallying, etc)? A former F1 driver?

Paul Di Resta maybe?

Michael Schumacher.

Loeb? Other than that, I don't see what could be huge news...

Perez confirmed at Addax alongside van der Garde. They may struggle. Team is losing vast majority of its engineers to Campos F1.

I wonder what they're definition of 'big' actually is? Doubt it'll be a recent F1 driver, as that to me wouldn't fit the 'not a huge surprise' criteria.

Is this it?

http://www.gp2series.com/en//website/2009g...s/home/homegp2/

It's Kimi, for sure!

...

Seriously, it could be S.Loeb, V.Rossi, or perhaps some of American fame - K.Busch, S.Dixon, R.Briscoe. Hardly any former F1 driver. What about an F3000/GP2 legend G.Pantano?

...

Even more seriously, it's just hype. 'Big' could mean anything, starting from some A1GP, Superleague or F3 driver.

It could be the Sergio Perez announcement, it's "big" because it's a seat in one of the top teams.

He isn't allowed to race since he won the championship

wtf? are you serious?

He can't be...

He won the GP2 championship so he cannot race in Gp2 anymore.

Is that right? I can't find a single source of information on the Internet that suggests that's the case?

Yea, thats probably it.

I'd also say he has a fair chance of doing quite well, too. Perhaps the next GP2 champion and future F1 driver. Never know.

I think Perez is fairly promising, and the cash he brings will likely lead him to F1 sooner or later. However this isn't going to be an easy season, Van Der Garde seems to finally have unlocked his mysteriously intermittent speed and should be a tough team-mate.

19) DRIVERS AND CHANGES OF DRIVER
19.1 Each team must have nominated its two drivers to GP2 at least 10 days prior to the first Event, GP2 will then publish a complete list. Any driver who previously won the GP2 Series Championship or any driver who completed a full season in the FIA Formula One World Championship will not be permitted to participate in the Series.

http://www.acdme.com/component/option,com_...,191/Itemid,30/

There you go

Everyday's a school day! Thanks.

I had no idea about that rule.

I had no idea about that rule and I hate it to be honest. Is it even legaly enforceable? Junior formulae always struggle to get an audience, probably because it's only contested by drivers that the casual public have never heard of. I'd have thought by having former Formula 1 drivers it might make it more interesting. We'd also get a better idea about how good the GP2 drivers are if there were 'known quantities' taking part. It seems to be a unique feature of single seaters that if you're not good enough to compete at the top level, you're expected to quit altogether. There are thousands of professional footballers who have long careers even though they're clearly not as good as Ronaldo and Messi, I don't see why single seaters can't work that way too.

They all know the rules when they join, and it's not as if it's the only series in town.

I was suggesting that I don't like a rule, not that someone does or doesn't know a rule.

I quess it just because GP2 series is supposed to be final ladder to F1..

Pantano is the only champion that didn't get to F1 after championship so it hasn't affected many careers.

You said that if they didn't make it to F1 after GP2 then they are expected to quit. There are many other series they can migrate to.

That would be the most retarded thing I'd read in the last 10 minutes if I hadn't read that F1 wants to change everything... again.

How he must be regretting winning that in 2008. Ha!

It's true that there are a few single seater opportunities to drivers once they've not made it to Formula 1, but they generally only stick at it for a year or so and after that the vast majority end up in Sportscars or Touring Cars. In any case, it was mainly the GP2 ethos that I was objecting to, that you have to be an up and coming driver to be allowed to take part. I just don't see why there's anything wrong with having a career as a single seater driver just because you're not seen as the the next Senna.

Very true. Seems that there's IndyCar(best option nowadays) and Superleague Formula. A1GP was good, but is pretty much gone. I really cant think of anything else.

Yeah for example we used to see folks sticking with the 250s in motorcycling for several years, even after winning it. I understand the point of the rule, which is to keep the championship from getting devalued (drivers will be more eager to go for GP2 if they do not have to beat an established top guy with more experience than them and without good reputation!), but it's a bit wank, really.

There is nothing to stop a driver having a career in single seaters if they don't make it in F1, just not in GP2. I think it's a good idea if you designate the series for up and coming drivers to not allow one or two drivers to dominate it for several seasons.

GP2 confirms 2010 calendar, teams



What about drivers?

What about TV coverage?

Well, I assume that Eurosport will carry on with the coverage. Unless anyone else knows better.

Eurosport have a long term deal after taking over mid-season when Setanta crashed.

UK only, or on Eurosport International this year?

UK, but I believe they may pick up some rights in Europe if there isn't an existing broadcaster.

Do people think Grosjean will head back to GP2 if he can't find a seat in F1? I think it would be the best option for him as he would have a good chance of winning it with Hülkenberg, Di Grassi and potentially Petrov and Maldonado out of the picture.

Ok, so no Kimi then

F3000/GP2 is viewed as the feeder series for F1. If you have champions hanging around in GP2, gone will be the reputation that GP2 is the best way to get into F1. So I can understand that rule.

Probably his best option but he may also consider le mans like senna did last year. GP2 seems to keep you in the f1 circle though. Either way it will be a bit of a disaster if he doesn't get a f1 seat next year.

My guess is that Grosjean's problem is that Renault used to pay for his GP2 seat, nowadays things might be a lot more difficult for him... Can't see him being very attractive to sponsors right now.

2010 GP2 Series grid:

ART Grand Prix
1. Jules Bianci
2. Sam Bird

Barwa Addax Team
3. Giedo van der Garde
4. Sergio Perez

Super Nova Racing
5.
6.

Racing Engineering
7.
8.

iSport International
9. Oliver Turvey
10.

DAMS
11.
12.

Rapax
14.
15.

Arden International
16.
17.

Ocean Racing Technology
18. Max Chilton
19. Fabio Leimer

Scuderia Coloni
20.
21.

Trident Racing
24.
25.

DPR
26.
27.

A lot of seats to be filled.

Edited because Clos not confirmed. Cheers paranoik0.

Clos isn't confirmed, it's a mistake in Wikipedia..

Oh well, I guess we can look forward to edited highlights being interrupted by over-running ladies tennis then

Still better that than Setanta

Van der Garde is going to be tough to beat now that he's finally got these cars figured out...

So will his teammate.....

Valsecchi signs on with iSport

2010 GP2 Series grid:

ART Grand Prix
1. Jules Bianci
2. Sam Bird

Barwa Addax Team
3. Giedo van der Garde
4. Sergio Perez

Super Nova Racing
5.
6.

Racing Engineering
7.
8.

iSport International
9. Oliver Turvey
10. Davide Valsecchi

DAMS
11.
12.

Rapax
14.
15.

Arden International
16.
17.

Ocean Racing Technology
18. Max Chilton
19. Fabio Leimer

Scuderia Coloni
20.
21.

Trident Racing
24.
25.

DPR
26.
27.

I'm interested in seeing how Valsecchi does there at iSport. Its a good team, and he might actually find that its the right team for him to really show his potential. His teammate is gonna be pretty good, too.

Any word on Rossi?

Clos has a seat secured at RE