54 replies to this topic

[HistoryFan]

Super Nova: Antonio Spavone – Vittorio Ghirelli – (?)
Manor MP: Daniël de Jong – Riccardo Agostini – Meindart van Buuren
Euronova: Kimiya Sato – Yoshitaka Kuroda
Virtuosi: Andrea Rhoda – Max Snegirev – (?)
Ombra: (?) – (?)
MLR71: Giacomo Ricci – Michele La Rosa
Zele: Luciano Bacheta – (?)
Ghinzani: Robert Visoiu – (?)
Ibiza: Giuseppe Cipriani – (?)

[Peat]

'New' car this year.

First race is this weekend at Monza.

All races LIVE on Eurosport (But i can only seem to find race 2)

[dank]

Karthikeyan joins Bacheta at Zele this weekend.

http://www.autosport...t.php/id/106200

Edited by dank, 21 March 2013 - 09:21.

[HistoryFan]

Nice to hear Karthikeyan will drive Auto GP, he could win like Pizzonia did last year.

But what about Ombra?

[ezequiel]

I've read Coloni has had some delays in finishing the new cars so I wouldn't expect a full grid for the opening round, maybe around 16 cars, but they should stabilize at around 20 vehicles which would be a good improvement for the series. Plus the new car looks somewhat like a late 90s F1 car and is pretty close to GP2 in pace.


Source of image

[Ross Stonefeld]

And who doesn't love Hello Kitty in KISS makeup.

[HistoryFan]

14 cars for Monza until now:
Antonio Spavone (Super Nova)
Vittorio Ghirelli (Super Nova)
Riccardo Agostini (MP)
Meindart van Buuren (MP)
Kimiya Sato (Euronova)
Yoshitaka Kuroda (Euronova)
Andrea Rhoda (Virtuosi)
Max Snegirev (Virtuosi)
Giacomo Ricci (MLR71)
Michele La Rosa (MLR71)
Luciano Bacheta (Zele)
Narain Karthikeyan (Zele)
Robert Visoiu (Ghinzani)
Giuseppe Cipriani (Ibiza)

De Jong für GP2 in Malaysia.

Drivers fighting for win: Karthikeyan, Agostini and Bacheta I think

[eronrules]

i've heard these cars are hell to drive, i remember when it was used in A1GP, IIRC they don't have power steering. i miss A1gp, it was fun to watch. i think this car gave rise to nico 'the Hulk' hulkenbergs name. but i still couldn't fathom why neal jani didn't bother to race Autogp, as for that matter Alex young.

Edited by eronrules, 21 March 2013 - 20:34.

[HaydenFan]

i've heard these cars are hell to drive, i remember when it was used in A1GP, IIRC they don't have power steering. i miss A1gp, it was fun to watch. i think this car gave rise to nico 'the Hulk' hulkenbergs name. but i still couldn't fathom why neal jani didn't bother to race Autogp, as for that matter Alex young.

That was the old car, this car above, is built by the people running the series and while it does look a lot like the Lola that ran in A1GP, it is an entire new car.

Those drivers you mentioned probably never gave this series a look. And IMO rightfully so. It is a series that evolved out of the Euro F3000 and hasn't had much support and publicity outside Romain Grosjean's season in 2010. It's kind of Europe's version of Indy Car or Super Formula (Formula Nippon); in that it's a stand alone series that really isn't trying to be a feeder to F1.

I think Ricci (2006 champion) and Spavone could also be contenders, but I believe unless Karthikeyan is complete rubbish at trying (and his runs in F3 and NASCAR Trucks said otherwise), he should dominate.

[ezequiel]

That was the old car, this car above, is built by the people running the series and while it does look a lot like the Lola that ran in A1GP, it is an entire new car.

Those drivers you mentioned probably never gave this series a look. And IMO rightfully so. It is a series that evolved out of the Euro F3000 and hasn't had much support and publicity outside Romain Grosjean's season in 2010. It's kind of Europe's version of Indy Car or Super Formula (Formula Nippon); in that it's a stand alone series that really isn't trying to be a feeder to F1.

I think Ricci (2006 champion) and Spavone could also be contenders, but I believe unless Karthikeyan is complete rubbish at trying (and his runs in F3 and NASCAR Trucks said otherwise), he should dominate.

I think it's the same Lola chassis used by A1GP only that with heavy revised aero by Coloni + Scalabroni, I also believe that the current evolution of the Zytek engine was also introduced for A1GP.
Apparently the first intention was for the series to be somewhat a stand alone series, but they introduced a GP2 test as prize a couple of years ago and currently I don't think anyone sees it as a real stand alone championship, it's more or less trying to impose itself on the ladder to F1 as a cheaper option than FR3.5 and GP2 with cars pretty much as fast as those. The disappearance of the FIA F2 series should benefit them now.

PS: some drivers like Mateo Tuscher, Tamas Pal Kiss, Gianmarco Raimondo and Niccolò Schirò may finish here. I think they all tested this winter in FR3.5 and/or GP2 but they didn't seem able to afford a drive there.

Edited by ezequiel, 22 March 2013 - 00:59.

[Peat]

Yeah, it's still the A1GP base, just now heavily revised.

I would like to know the budget driver's have to bring for the new car, because as far as i could tell, the main reason for the series sucess was that is was dirt cheap (in comparison)

[HistoryFan]

very strong Cipriani - in front of Bacheta and Karthikeyan!!!

[William Hunt]

1 - Riccardo Agostini – Manor MP – 1'35”782
2 - Sergio Campana – Ibiza – 1'36”455
3 - Vittorio Ghirelli – Super Nova – 1'36”524
4 - Andrea Roda – Virtuosi – 1'36”717
5 - Robert Visoiu – Ghinzani – 1'36”485
6 - Kimiya Sato – Euronova – 1'36”922
7 - Yoshitaka Kuroda – Euronova – 1'37”120
8 - Giuseppe Cipriani – Ibiza – 1'37”203
9 - Giacomo Ricci – MLR71 – 1'37”315
10 - Luciano Bacheta – Zele – 1'37”327
11 - Antonio Spavone – Super Nova – 1'37”327
12 - Narain Karthikeyan – Zele – 1'37”487
13 - Max Snegirev – Virtuosi – 1'37”832
14 - Meindert Van Buuren – Manor MP – 1'38”827
15 - Michele La Rosa – MLR71 – 1'42”641

[CrossF1]

Race is being streamed on their website: http://www.autogp.or...=live_streaming

[TFLB]

It's a bit of a joke series really, especially when you consider that you've got a 42-year-old team owner trundling around at the back.

[dank]

very strong Cipriani - in front of Bacheta and Karthikeyan!!!

Yeah, but Cipriani has been in the series three years and has tested the new car. I'd also wager that the Zele cars haven't progressed much since last year.

Anyway, we shall find out later when the opening race of the season takes place at... er... 13:00, I believe?

[HaydenFan]

And like last year, the video's they post lack some form of commentary. While 14 laps of Monza is nothing, I'd like to know clarifications on rules and other pertinent information on the goings on of the race. Especially (SPOILER ALERTS!) after the start of this race.

Edited by HaydenFan, 23 March 2013 - 13:23.

[Brandz07]

Pretty poor showing from Narain Karthikeyan, it's not the strongest series in the world and he's running round near the back. It's funny to think that he raced in F1 last year.

[billm99uk]

Pretty poor showing from Narain Karthikeyan, it's not the strongest series in the world and he's running round near the back. It's funny to think that he raced in F1 last year.

Must have got into bad habits at HRT

[speed0462]

Pretty poor showing from Narain Karthikeyan, it's not the strongest series in the world and he's running round near the back. It's funny to think that he raced in F1 last year.

He had a puncture in qualifying.

[HaydenFan]

He had a puncture in qualifying.

But in a small field, he should have been able to get at least a points finish no matter where he started.

[ApexMouse]

......

But he sucks.

[mastermind]

But in a small field, he should have been able to get at least a points finish no matter where he started.

He did, didn't he? He finished 5th.

Or am I missing something?

[HaydenFan]

He did, didn't he? He finished 5th.

Or am I missing something?

Huh... you're shows how well the coverage of the race was. Outside the top 2-3 they just kinda gave up at the end to show them, or it they did they didn't give us a clue who they were.

[CrossF1]

Narain finished P5. 0.6 seconds off the 3rd place. Not a real disaster coming fromP12. Don't know what are you guys complaining.

[Peat]

It's a bit of a joke series really, especially when you consider that you've got a 42-year-old team owner trundling around at the back.

It's up to him what he does with his money, really, isn't it?

If i had a windfall, AutoGP is something i would look at doing. Run a car for me and sell the other seat to a rich Russian kid. Bifty!

[Brandz07]

Narain finished P5. 0.6 seconds off the 3rd place. Not a real disaster coming fromP12. Don't know what are you guys complaining.

Ahh that's much better, more like what I'd expect.

[William Hunt]

race 1 result:
1 – Sergio Campana – Ibiza – 14 giri 23'40”402
2 – Kimiya Sato – Euronova – 7”575
3 - Robert Visoiu – Ghinzani – 18”895
4 – Vittorio Ghirelli – Super Nova – 19”119
5 – Narain Karthikeyan – Zele – 19”409
6 – Antonio Spavone – Super Nova – 19”907
7 – Riccardo Agostini – MP Motorsport – 20”700
8 – Luciano Bacheta – Zele – 23”739
9 – Giuseppe Cipriani – Ibiza – 35”169
10 – Max Snegirev – Virtuosi – 44”079
11 – Yoshitaka Kuroda – Euronova – 1'31”620
12 – Michele La Rosa – MLR71 – 1 giro

[Deluxx]

Wow, Narain got off to a bad start. Puncture in quali... got turned around in race 1.... Race 2 he lost his brakes due to air in the system... interested in seeing his luck turn and pull out a few wins

Race 2 was completely soaked out, but still fun to watch. I'm watching like lap 6 and it looks like half of the Mediterranean poured out on the track. Sato led a crazy dominant race.

Riccardo Agostini's car got crazy understeer from this (and probably better downforce, haha):


Not sure why but I love this series. It has a certain...je ne sais quoi...or charm that appeals to me. Call me crazy, but I actually find the cars attractive too....

Here's the results if anyone was wondering, and championship standings if anyone cares:

Race 2:
1. Kimiya Sato
2. Luciano Bacheta
3. Vittorio Ghirelli
4. Sergio Campana
5. Riccardo Agostini
6. Robert Visoiu
7. Yoshitaka Kuroda
8. Michele la Rosa
9. Antonio Spavone
10. Meinhart van Buuren
11. Andrea Roda
12. Giacomo Ricci
13. Giuseppe Cipriani
Retirements:
Narain Karthikeyan
Maxim Snegirev

Top 5 Champ Standings
1 Kimiya Sato 39
2 Sergio Campana 36
3 Vittorio Ghirelli 24
4 Robert Visoiu 21
5 Luciano Bacheta 19

[HistoryFan]

Ìs there a live stream?

[Fondmetal]

google vip box tv

Narain is strong enough to get a couple of Wins, people forget he is a race winner in F3, A1 GP, and Nissan World Series etc.

[billm99uk]

That's one mad Italian!

[BRG]

What a demolition derby! Why can't they race at some half sensible track?

[ezequiel]

So Tamás Pál Kiss to replace Ricci at MLR71 and Dracone joining Supernova on a third car for Hungary.

[Forma1]

Although I love Auto Gp cos the cars are quite competitve, the cannot be said about the driver's quality. There are only 1-2 drivers I could imagine to establish themselves in higer forumla categories. Therefore I expect Tamas right in the TOP3, he is considered as a talented driver. He outperformed his team mates back in 2012 and drove an excellent race in front of my exes in Hungary. So finger crossed for him!

[HaydenFan]

There is not consistent driver lineups this year from round to round. Half the field seems to have been replaced.

[ezequiel]

There is not consistent driver lineups this year from round to round. Half the field seems to have been replaced.

I'm afraid that's not true: Ricci getting replaced by Pál Kiss is the only driver change so far, De Jong is doing a partial season on a third car by MP and Dracone is not replacing one of Supernova's stablished drivers but joining in a third car. If there's a problem with Auto GP it's its impossiblity to retain teams: 2013 is only the fourth season for the series and the teams that have raced there and do not do it anymore are: Dams, Gravity-Charouz, Trident, RP, Lazarus, Durango, Ombra, TP, Emmebi and Campos. That's 10 teams. Everytime Coloni secures a new team for the series it's more to replace some other team that is leaving rather than to increase the weak grid numbers.

[billm99uk]

Karthikeyan on pole!

[CrossF1]

Karthikeyan on pole!

And finished P4 in the end... poor performance.

[billm99uk]

And finished P4 in the end... poor performance.

Well the rubbish pit stop didn't help. Though Ghirelli, at least, seemed to have the legs on the old man

[HistoryFan]

But Zele had tyre problems, so both drivers were handicaped in both races.

[HistoryFan]

Karthikeyan moved to Super Nova and won...
So there are big differences between the teams I think.

[HistoryFan]

is there a live stream for the second round now?

[HistoryFan]

Ghirelli is champion. I think he was not the best driver this season, but congratulations!

 

what was the matter with Karthikeyan's front-wing today?

[pacificquay]

17 cars today, is that the best in Auto GP's history?

[HistoryFan]

we had that in Silverstone this season before. Can's see that that's a record. 

[remdev]

17 cars is a record for Auto GP. They had 17 cars max each year since 2010

[HistoryFan]

okay, I'm counting the series since 1999 and then we have 18 cars in Mugello 2005 and many more cars until 2002. In Monza 2002 we had 26 cars. Also in some races in 2001. That must be the all-time-record. 

[ezequiel]

Ghirelli is champion. I think he was not the best driver this season, but congratulations!

Weird season, I think Campana started in great shape but didn't look that good in the second half. Karthikeyan improved when he switched to Supernova which seems to be the best team in the series. That's probably the advantage Ghirelli had over other drivers. A pity Bacheta, Agostini, Giovesi and Pál Kiss were on limited schedules, they could have added some spice to the title battle.

[pacificquay]

okay, I'm counting the series since 1999 and then we have 18 cars in Mugello 2005 and many more cars until 2002. In Monza 2002 we had 26 cars. Also in some races in 2001. That must be the all-time-record. 

That wasn't Auto GP, that was Euro 3000