The 2011 GP2 Series season was the forty-fifth season of the second-tier of Formula One feeder championship and also seventh season under the GP2 Series moniker, the pan-European motor racing series for single specification open wheel GP2 cars. Thirteen teams competed over a nine event series that run from 7 May at Istanbul Park in Turkey to 11 September at Monza in Italy. The series again performed the role of a series for developing emerging young drivers, acting as the principal supporting motor racing series that fills in time between sessions of the nine World Championship Formula One Grands Prix that are held in Europe. The championship was won by reigning GP2 Asia champion Romain Grosjean at the penultimate round of the series. Luca Filippi, Jules Bianchi and Charles Pic were all divided just by two points in their battle for the second, third and fourth places respectively. Christian Vietoris, Davide Valsecchi, Stefano Coletti, Esteban Gutiérrez and Fabio Leimer was the other race winners.
Following a three-year cycle, the previous GP2 chassis was replaced by a brand new car, the GP2/11, built by Italian racing car manufacturer Dallara. The engine configuration remained the same until the end of the 2017 season, with the only modifications being to the exhaust systems.[1] The series changed tyre supplier from Bridgestone to Pirelli for 2011–13.[2] The 2011 season saw the addition of two new teams to the grid, Carlin and Team AirAsia.[3] Meanwhile, DPR was not selected to continue in the series.
On 22 November 2010 it was announced that Renault would no longer badge their Mecachrome GP2 Series engines, instead Mecachrome would run its own engine program from 2011 onwards.[4] All GP2 Series cars had a reverse gear for the first time in the series.
Teams and drivers
edit This section lists drivers who competed in the regular season. For the drivers who competed in the non-championship race in Abu Dhabi, see 2011 GP2 Final.
Team changes
edit- David Price Racing left GP2, while Carlin and Team AirAsia joined the series, filling the vacancies left by DPR and Durango (who left ahead of the 2010 season).[3]
- Lotus Cars lent its name to ART Grand Prix in a similar arrangement to their sponsorship of Takuma Sato and KV Racing Technology in the IndyCar Series, while Team Lotus is behind the new Team AirAsia outfit. Aside from the name, there is no crossover between Lotus ART and Team Air Asia.[31]
Driver changes
edit- Changed teams
- Sam Bird moved to iSport International after competing in his rookie season for ART Grand Prix. He partnered Marcus Ericsson, who moves over from Super Nova Racing.
- Johnny Cecotto Jr. switched from Trident Racing to Ocean Racing Technology, having competed for Trident in the first eight meetings of the 2010 season.
- Max Chilton moved from Ocean Racing Technology to be part of Carlin's inaugural GP2 pairing.
- Rodolfo González returned to Trident Racing after a season with Arden International. González drove for Trident at the German round in 2009.
- After driving for DPR for most of his GP2 career to date, Michael Herck moved to Scuderia Coloni.
- After driving for Super Nova Racing in his rookie season, Josef Král switched to Arden International.
- Fabio Leimer moved from Ocean Racing Technology to Rapax.
- Charles Pic switched from Arden International to partner Giedo van der Garde at Barwa Addax.
- Luiz Razia moved from team's champions Rapax to debutants Team Air Asia. Davide Valsecchi joined him after a season with iSport International.
- Entering/Re-Entering GP2 Series
- Formula Renault 3.5 Series champion Mikhail Aleshin has extended his collaboration with Carlin for GP2, making a return to GP2 after contesting two meetings in 2007 with ART Grand Prix.
- Stefano Coletti returned to the series with Trident Racing, having competed in two rounds in 2009 for Durango.
- Fairuz Fauzy made his comeback to the series with Super Nova Racing, the team that Fauzy competed with in 2006 and also in the 2008 Asia Series.
- GP3 Series champion Esteban Gutiérrez moved up to GP2 with Lotus ART, having raced for the team in GP3.
- Julián Leal made his debut in the series with Rapax, having finished 20th in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series for International DracoRacing.
- After a part season in the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup, Kevin Mirocha graduated into GP2 with Ocean Racing Technology.
- FIA Formula Two Championship runner-up Jolyon Palmer joined Arden International.
- Davide Rigon returned to the series with Scuderia Coloni, having driven for Trident Racing in 2009.
- Pål Varhaug moved up from the GP3 Series to drive for DAMS.
- Leaving GP2
- 2010 champion Pastor Maldonado will from Rapax to compete in Formula One with Williams alongside Rubens Barrichello.
- Jérôme d'Ambrosio left DAMS to compete in Formula One for Virgin Racing alongside former GP2 Champion Timo Glock, having previously driven for the team during Friday practice sessions at selected events in 2010.[32]
- Sergio Pérez moved from Barwa Addax to compete in Formula One with Sauber alongside former Asia Series champion Kamui Kobayashi.
- Ho-Pin Tung moved to the IndyCar Series as a part-time entry with Dragon Racing, and failed to qualify for the 2011 Indianapolis 500.
- Alberto Valerio returned to his native Brazil to compete in the Copa Caixa Stock Car series.
- Adrian Zaugg moved to Auto GP, but completed only one event in 2011.
- Midseason Changes
- A number of midseason changes were also made during the season, to replace other drivers. Scuderia Coloni's Davide Rigon suffered stable fractures of the tibia and fibula in an accident with Julián Leal in Istanbul. He was replaced by Kevin Ceccon in Montmeló and Monaco after Vietoris' accident in Istanbul left him suffering from severe headaches. He continued with his campaign in DTM despite this, and returned to GP2 in time for the Valencia round.[33]
- For Monaco, Oliver Turvey made his return to the category, replacing Mikhail Aleshin at Carlin. Turvey was later replaced by Álvaro Parente in Valencia. Aleshin returned at the Hungaroring, as Parente had a prior commitment to compete for McLaren at the Spa 24 Hours.
- Prior to the round at the Nürburgring, Kevin Ceccon left Scuderia Coloni to concentrate on Auto GP. He was replaced by fellow Auto GP racer Luca Filippi from Super Nova Racing. Filippi's vacated seat was taken by Adam Carroll, who returned to the series after participating between 2005 and 2008. Ceccon later returned to the team for the non-championship round in Abu Dhabi.[34]
- For the round held at Spa-Francorchamps, Brendon Hartley replaced Kevin Mirocha in the Ocean Racing Technology team.
- For the round held at Monza, the injured Stefano Coletti was replaced by Stéphane Richelmi.
2011 Schedule
editThe 2011 calendar was announced on 21 December 2010. The series will consist of nine rounds, one less than in 2010, as the Abu Dhabi round will return to the GP2 Asia Series and will not be replaced.[35] It will support all the European Formula One events.[36]
On 12 July 2011, it was announced that a non-championship round will take place in Abu Dhabi under the name 2011 GP2 Final.[37]
| Round | Location | Circuit | Date | Time[38] | Tyres[b] | Supporting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local | UTC | |||||||
| 1 | F | Istanbul Park | 7 May | 15:40 | 12:40 | Medium | Turkish Grand Prix | |
| S | 8 May | 11:35 | 08:35 | |||||
| 2 | F | Circuit de Catalunya | 21 May | 15:40 | 13:40 | Hard | Spanish Grand Prix | |
| S | 22 May | 10:35 | 08:35 | |||||
| 3 | F | Circuit de Monaco | 27 May | 11:15 | 09:15 | Super Soft | Monaco Grand Prix | |
| S | 28 May | 16:30 | 14:30 | |||||
| 4 | F | Valencia Street Circuit | 25 June | 15:40 | 13:40 | Soft | European Grand Prix | |
| S | 26 June | 10:35 | 08:35 | |||||
| 5 | F | Silverstone Circuit | 9 July | 14:40 | 13:40 | Medium | British Grand Prix | |
| S | 10 July | 09:30 | 08:30 | |||||
| 6 | F | Nürburgring | 23 July | 15:40 | 13:40 | Soft | German Grand Prix | |
| S | 24 July | 10:30 | 08:30 | |||||
| 7 | F | Hungaroring | 30 July | 15:40 | 13:40 | Soft | Hungarian Grand Prix | |
| S | 31 July | 10:30 | 08:30 | |||||
| 8 | F | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | 27 August | 15:40 | 13:40 | Medium | Belgian Grand Prix | |
| S | 28 August | 10:30 | 08:30 | |||||
| 9 | F | Monza Circuit | 10 September | 15:40 | 13:40 | Hard | Italian Grand Prix | |
| S | 11 September | 10:30 | 08:30 | |||||
| NC | F | Yas Marina Circuit | 12 November | ? | ? | Medium | Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | |
| S | 13 November | ? | ? | |||||
Results
editChampionship standings
edit- Scoring system
Points are awarded to the top 8 classified finishers in the Feature race, and to the top 6 classified finishers in the Sprint race. The pole-sitter in the feature race will also receive two points, and one point is given to the driver who set the fastest lap inside the top ten in both the feature and sprint races. No extra points are awarded to the pole-sitter in the sprint race.
- Feature race points
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | Pole | FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
- Sprint race points
Points are awarded to the top 6 classified finishers.
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | FL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Drivers' Championship
edit
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Bold – Pole | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes:
- † — Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.
Teams' Championship
edit
|
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Notes:
- † — Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.
Notes
edit- ^ Leal is a Colombian driver who competed under an Italian racing licence in rounds 1–4.
- ^ Pirelli supplied only one dry compound to the teams to be used throughout the race weekend.[39]
- ^ Jules Bianchi recorded the fastest time in qualifying, but got a ten-place penalty for disregarding yellow flags. Giedo van der Garde was recognised as the pole-sitter for the race.
- ^ Charles Pic set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Fabio Leimer was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
- ^ Giedo van der Garde recorded the fastest time in qualifying, but got a five-place penalty for causing a collision. Sam Bird was recognised as the pole-sitter for the race.
- ^ Sam Bird set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Romain Grosjean was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
- ^ Charles Pic set the fastest time in qualifying, but started the race from the pit lane after stopping in the formation lap. The pole position remained empty on the grid. Giedo van der Garde was the first driver on the grid in second place. Pic is still considered to hold the pole position.
- ^ Stefano Coletti set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Esteban Gutiérrez was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
- ^ Stefano Coletti set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Romain Grosjean was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
- ^ Sam Bird set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Luca Filippi was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
- ^ Julián Leal set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Christian Vietoris was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
- ^ Marcus Ericsson set the fastest lap, but did not finish in the top 10, so was ineligible to be the point-scorer for the fastest lap. Luca Filippi was the point-scorer instead for setting the fastest lap of those finishing in the top 10.
References
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- ^ "GP2 Series with Pirelli in 2011-2013". GP2 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 24 June 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "GP2 Series announce teams for 2011-2013". GP2 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 21 September 2010. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ^ "Renault to Lose Mecachrome Engine Developer?". Retrieved 22 November 2010.
- ^ "Fabio Leimer with Team Champions Rapax in 2011". GP2 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 7 December 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ^ "Julian Leal joins Rapax in 2011 GP2 Series". GP2 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
- ^ a b "Pic — van der Garde line up for Barwa Addax". GP2 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 23 December 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ^ Collantine, Keith (21 September 2010). "Lotus to back ART's GP2 and GP3 teams". F1 Fanatic. Keith Collantine. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
- ^ Noble, Jonathan (23 December 2010). "Bianchi signs for ART for 2011". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
- ^ "Esteban Gutierrez in GP2 with Lotus ART team in 2011". estebanracing.com. Esteban Gutiérrez. 10 November 2010. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
- ^ a b "Racing Engineering confirm their 2011 Line Up". GP2 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 27 January 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ^ "Round 2 – Barcelona Preview". GP2 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 19 May 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
- ^ a b English, Steven (13 January 2011). "iSport signs Bird and Ericsson for '11". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ a b "Grosjean and Varhaug confirmed by DAMS". GPUpdate.net. GPUpdate. 25 January 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
- ^ a b "Kral and Palmer join Arden for 2011 GP2 season". Arden Motorsport. Arden International. 24 January 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Elizalde, Pablo (18 January 2011). "Fauzy to be Renault's reserve driver". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 18 January 2011.
The team said the Malaysian will also be competing in the GP2 series this year with the Super Nova squad.
- ^ "Istanbul Preview". Super Nova Racing. RiDom Ltd. 4 May 2011. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
- ^ a b "Super Nova Confirm Carroll's GP2 Return". thecheckeredflag.co.uk. The Checkered Flag. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
- ^ "Scuderia Coloni and Michael Herck join forces in 2011". GP2 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 22 October 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ^ "Rigon and Scuderia Coloni together in the GP2 Series". GP2 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 30 April 2011. Archived from the original on 6 May 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
- ^ van de Burgt, Andrew (17 May 2011). "Ceccon replaces Rigon at Coloni". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- ^ "Rodolfo Gonzalez completes Trident Racing line up in 2011". GP2 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 27 January 2011. Archived from the original on 30 January 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ^ "Interview with Trident's Stefano Coletti". Racecar. Racecar New Media Services Ltd. 22 November 2010. Archived from the original on 24 November 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2010.
- ^ Glendenning, Mark (3 September 2011). "Stephane Richelmi to deputise for injured Stefano Coletti in Trident GP2 line-up". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
- ^ a b Elizalde, Pablo (5 April 2011). "Ocean signs Cecotto, Mirocha". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
- ^ Allen, Peter (25 August 2011). "Hartley Replaces Mirocha at Ocean For Spa". TheCheckeredFlag.co.uk. BlackEagleMedia. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
- ^ a b "Carlin ready for GP2 Series debut". carlin.co.uk. Carlin. 4 May 2011. Archived from the original on 8 May 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
- ^ "Round 3 – Monaco Preview". GP2 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 25 May 2011. Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
- ^ "Parente joins Carlin". GP2 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 21 June 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
- ^ a b Beer, Matt (4 February 2011). "AirAsia secures Valsecchi and Razia". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ^ Beer, Matt (22 September 2010). "Group Lotus announces ART deal". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
- ^ "The new face of Marussia Virgin Racing". Virgin Racing. Virgin Group. 21 December 2010. Archived from the original on 24 December 2010. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
- ^ O'Leary, Jamie (23 June 2011). "Vietoris back for Valencia". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
- ^ Freeman, Glenn (6 October 2011). "Kevin Ceccon to do GP2 non-championship event at Abu Dhabi with Coloni". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
- ^ "GP2 Asia rejoins Abu Dhabi GP bill". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
- ^ "GP2 Series 2011 season Calendar". GP2 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 21 December 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ^ "GP2 Series and GP2 Asia Series to be merged". GP2 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 12 July 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
- ^ "GP2 Calendar". Motorsportstats.com. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
- ^ "Tyres". F2fanatic.wordpress.com. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
- ^ "GP2 Fastest laps". motorsportstats.com. Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 26 December 2021.