Par Emmanuel Rolland
Following a two-day test last week on the 5.451km Chinese track that saw Kamui Kobayashi shine on Dams, the 26 GP2 competitors are getting ready for a three-day action as the second season of the GP2 Asia Series opens tomorrow in Shanghai as part of the Formula One race weekend.
Going to China is a first for the championship. Its successful opening season that generated both great action and a lot of interest in Asia and the Middle East started in Dubai last January and ended at the same track in mid-April. Romain Grosjean was crowned Champion on ART after five rounds, including two Formula One events.
This time, the GP2 Asia Series is back not only with a new circuit - Shanghai, but also with an added event. Three of them coincide with a Formula One race weekend: China, Malaysia and Bahrain.
A new champion will be crowned at the end of the 08/09 six race calendar. If Japanese star Kamui Kobayashi looks like a serious title contender, he will most certainly have to fight tooth and nails against some very competitive challengers including Russian Vitaly Petrov who finished third in the first season, Belgian Jérôme d'Ambrosio, Italian Davide Valsecchi, Spaniard Roldan Rodriguez, Japanese Sakon Yamamoto and rookie Giedo Van der Garde who all performed well last week.
The grid counts nine Asian/Middle East drivers, including former F1 driver Alex Yoong at the wheel of Malaysian team My Team Qi-Meritus.Mahara. Twelve rookies take part in the second season debut.
Following a two-day test last week on the 5.451km Chinese track that saw Kamui Kobayashi shine on Dams, the 26 GP2 competitors are getting ready for a three-day action as the second season of the GP2 Asia Series opens tomorrow in Shanghai as part of the Formula One race weekend.
Going to China is a first for the championship. Its successful opening season that generated both great action and a lot of interest in Asia and the Middle East started in Dubai last January and ended at the same track in mid-April. Romain Grosjean was crowned Champion on ART after five rounds, including two Formula One events.
This time, the GP2 Asia Series is back not only with a new circuit - Shanghai, but also with an added event. Three of them coincide with a Formula One race weekend: China, Malaysia and Bahrain.
A new champion will be crowned at the end of the 08/09 six race calendar. If Japanese star Kamui Kobayashi looks like a serious title contender, he will most certainly have to fight tooth and nails against some very competitive challengers including Russian Vitaly Petrov who finished third in the first season, Belgian Jérôme d'Ambrosio, Italian Davide Valsecchi, Spaniard Roldan Rodriguez, Japanese Sakon Yamamoto and rookie Giedo Van der Garde who all performed well last week.
The grid counts nine Asian/Middle East drivers, including former F1 driver Alex Yoong at the wheel of Malaysian team My Team Qi-Meritus.Mahara. Twelve rookies take part in the second season debut.