1789 replies to this topic

[Peat]

So, GP2 kicks off this weekend in Malaysia.

Runners and Riders: http://www.gp2series...ms-and-Drivers/

I can't really see past a Calado vs Nasr title fight. They are the only 2 i really rate.

Notable noobs:
Adrian Quaife-Hobbs (Talented young brit)
Ma Qing Hua (That bloke who Friday'ed for HRT. Not raced many single seaters, hope he's not a disgrace)
Mitch Evans (That Aussie douche who won the GP3 title despite atrocious driving at Monza)

Throw in a bit of Malaysian weather and we should have fireworks!

[Ross Stonefeld]

Evans is from New Zealand.

[Seanspeed]

Thats right!

I keep forgetting GP2 starts much earlier now. Nice.

[Peat]

Evans is from New Zealand.

Bah. Australia/New Zealand - Same thing

*runs for cover

[Deluxx]

Who's broadcasting this season this year? I know it most likely wont be on in America but... we have our ways of getting the race.

[Peat]

Sky Sports F1 here in the UK.

[HuddersfieldTerrier1986]

Sky Sports F1 here in the UK.

With Will Buxton back doing the world feed commentary for both that and GP3 (which is also being shown on Sky Sports F1 in the UK, though I appreciate this is the GP2 thread).

[billm99uk]

Sky Sports F1 here in the UK.

Doesn't look like the feature race is live on my schedule?

[HuddersfieldTerrier1986]

Doesn't look like the feature race is live on my schedule?

Both races are live. Race 1 is 3.10-4.35am on Saturday morning, race 2 is 4.10-5.10 on Sunday morning.

[Peat]

@HuddersfieldTerrier - Yeah, i know, it's a shame.

@bilm99uk - Both races are before the F1 sessions this weekend due to F1 being on so late in the day for 'us westies'. Because that's what we want.....apparently.

[billm99uk]

Both races are live. Race 1 is 3.10-4.35am on Saturday morning, race 2 is 4.10-5.10 on Sunday morning.

Ah, I see now. Thanks! Was expecting it be after qualifying

[Jackmancer]

Any word if Frijns will have a seat?

[HuddersfieldTerrier1986]

Ah, I see now. Thanks! Was expecting it be after qualifying

No worries. that's generally the case for the European based races (although race 2 is always on a Sunday morning local time), but with it being a late start in Malaysia, once you take into account the potential for the race to be stopped due to rain or fading light after the F1, having them before the F1 on both days is the sensible choice.

[Deluxx]

With Will Buxton back doing the world feed commentary for both that and GP3 (which is also being shown on Sky Sports F1 in the UK, though I appreciate this is the GP2 thread).

hmm, I wonder how he got that gig with his Nbc contract! They're normally anal about that

[JourneyTH]

It's going to be Calado vs. Nasr alright, although Dillmann, going by his immense testing pace, could also be a factor. And, ofc, some of the seasoned veterans like Leimer, Ericsson etc etc could always pull a Valsecchi.

[billm99uk]

Mitch Evans (That Aussie douche who won the GP3 title despite atrocious driving at Monza)

He just got a bit desperate because the title was slipping away. It's was hardly his usual style of driving, which tended to be a bit bland, if anything.

[HaydenFan]

I think if RUSSIAN TIME can provide a good backing for Dillman will be a title contender as well. Seeing 2 whole teams without drivers being confirmed is a worrying sign though. While I bet those seats are filled, that uncertainty isn't good for the series.

[Ross Stonefeld]

hmm, I wonder how he got that gig with his Nbc contract! They're normally anal about that

Probably because it's an FOM job, which he already had, rather than directly for a competing network. And pit reporters are often off doing other roles, they aren't the 'main talent'.

[HistoryFan]

I think if RUSSIAN TIME can provide a good backing for Dillman will be a title contender as well. Seeing 2 whole teams without drivers being confirmed is a worrying sign though. While I bet those seats are filled, that uncertainty isn't good for the series.

I thought we hear something today, but nothing happens...

[Tufty]

Both races are live. Race 1 is 3.10-4.35am on Saturday morning, race 2 is 4.10-5.10 on Sunday morning.

Thanks. What time is the qualifying on? Can't get SkyGo running so can't check the schedule.

[Gyan]

Calado vs Nasr, but I wouldn't rule out Mitch Evans either.

[Peat]

GP2 Qualy = 7:50am, Friday

[expert]

Mitch Evans conceded in the NZ press this week that he doesn't have funding for the full season, so will be hoping good results will attract more sponsorship.

[olliek88]

Mitch Evans (That Aussie douche who won the GP3 title despite atrocious driving at Monza)

Yes, because what you do at the last race is what really matters, not that you built up a good lead over the course of the other, apparently less important, 14 races.

Oh, and he's not an Aussie, that was a noob mistake on your part...

[charly0418]

My projected standings at the end of the season:


1- James Calado
2- Felipe Nasr
3- Stefano Coletti
4- Marcus Ericsson
5- Fabio Leimer
6- Johnny Cecotto
7- Tom Dillman
8- Jolyon Palmer
9- Daniel Abt
10- Robin Frijns



Don't think Mitch Evans will do good
Ma Qing Hua will be terrible
Addax will keep sinking

I think this years grid has more talent than last years, problem is, it has less money

[Ross Stonefeld]

I think Frijns would be higher than that.

[KingB]

I think as well that Calado will do the job at the front...
but it's a close call who will follow him...wouldn't bet my money on anybody

[Peat]

blah

All of which has since been established in this thread. Thanks for reading.

[PorcupineTroy]

Personally, I'm expecting Ericsson to win the championship this year. If it were between Calado and Nasr, I would go with the former.

Or maybe Frijns could do something great?

[CrossF1]

Conor Daly with Hilmer?
https://twitter.com/...782267245903873

[billm99uk]

Conor Daly with Hilmer?
https://twitter.com/...782267245903873

Just this race or season though?

Seems to have tested every four-wheeled series in Europe this winter ;)

[joshb]

Hoping Calado wipes the floor, be nice to see a Brit do well and hopefully get an F1 drive on merit in 2014.
Thought Daniel Abt would give him a hard time but he's been off Calado's pace in testing but I suppose he is a rookie, but he may start running Calado close later on in the year.

[JourneyTH]

People who have so far been confirmed to be in Malaysia yet without an official GP2 seat are Daly, Pal Varhaug, Nat Berthon and Kevin Ceccon. Ceccon must've landed a GP2 seat according to a very very cheeky tweet by Will Buxton. Good news.

[balage06]

Bird returns to GP2 with RUSSIAN TIME:
http://www.gp2series...t-RUSSIAN-TIME/

[Peat]

Seriously, that guy must have money to burn.

Presumably he is therefore not the reserve for MercGP anymore?

[Jackmancer]

I think Frijns would be higher than that.

Frijns doesn't even have a seat atm

[Lotusseven]

Seriously, that guy must have money to burn.

Presumably he is therefore not the reserve for MercGP anymore?

Bird was in the Mercedes garage in AUS so I think he is the reserve.
I was hoping for Frijns in RT.

Edited by Lotusseven, 19 March 2013 - 09:42.

[BackmarkerUK]

Seriously, that guy must have money to burn.

Presumably he is therefore not the reserve for MercGP anymore?

If Mercedes had actually needed to substitute someone for one of their regular drivers I think they would have chosen someone with recent F1 race experience, e.g. Heikki Kovalainen or Vitaly Petrov. Sam Bird will, with all probability, still drive for Merc at the 'young' driver tests.

[Jackman]

Dillman famously has little to no budget, but is a reasonable talent: it's not hard to figure that RT have brought in Bird for very little money but with the ambition of having two strong drivers and showing what the team can do, so as to attract moneyed drivers in the future.

[Lotusseven]

Dillman famously has little to no budget, but is a reasonable talent: it's not hard to figure that RT have brought in Bird for very little money but with the ambition of having two strong drivers and showing what the team can do, so as to attract moneyed drivers in the future.

It´s DillmanN ;)

[CrossF1]

Just this race or season though?

Seems to have tested every four-wheeled series in Europe this winter ;)

I think it's only for this race. He should do GP3 with ART. But I could be wrong.

And looks like Frijns won't drive for Trident. It will be Ceccon and Berthon instead.

Edited by CrossF1, 19 March 2013 - 09:49.

[Jackman]

Just because he's driving for RUSSIAN TIME doesn't give him the right to randomly capitalise letters in his name.

[KingB]

Well, I didn't see that move coming...so I wouldn't bet on the other two missing driver pairings

[Ross Stonefeld]

Dillman famously has little to no budget, but is a reasonable talent: it's not hard to figure that RT have brought in Bird for very little money but with the ambition of having two strong drivers and showing what the team can do, so as to attract moneyed drivers in the future.

In F3000 they were called Brand Motorsport.

[Jackmancer]

FFS NO Frijns =/
what a joke

[Ross Stonefeld]

If he doesn't have enough money he's not going to race *shrug*

[Jackmancer]

If he doesn't have enough money he's not going to race *shrug*

Sauber can't afford to invest a bit? -.-

[Ross Stonefeld]

I think they invested by hiring Nico Hulkenberg.

[billm99uk]

Well, I didn't see that move coming...so I wouldn't bet on the other two missing driver pairings

Which seats are left then?

And who are the contenders...

[KingB]

Which seats are left then?

And who are the contenders...

Trident and Hilmer still have to announce their drivers.
Trident tested Frijns, Berthon and Gonzalez
Hilmer tested Varhaug, Daly and Agostini
but names like Ceccon are thrown in too