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2010 GP2 Series

Season of Formula One feeder championship


Season of Formula One feeder championship

Formula One Support series: GP3 Series Teams' Champion: Rapax

The 2010 GP2 Series season was the forty-fourth season of the second-tier of Formula One feeder championship and also sixth season under the GP2 Series moniker. The season began on 8 May at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmeló, Spain and ended on 14 November at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates after 20 races held at ten meetings.

This was the first GP2 season held with its own feeder series, the GP3 Series. The 2010 series was at most of the European Formula One rounds with GP2. The German GP2 round returned to Hockenheim, due to its alternation with the Nürburgring as host of the German Grand Prix. Abu Dhabi became a part of the main series, after two races in the 2009–10 GP2 Asia Series. The 2010 season was the last season with the second-generation Dallara GP2/08 car, introduced in 2008. It was also the last season that Bridgestone was the sole tyre supplier for the series, as they were replaced by Pirelli for the following season. The new car – the Dallara GP2/11 – will be utilised in the main series and the GP2 Asia Series from 2011 onwards.

Pastor Maldonado clinched the championship title with two races to spare, despite crashing out of the sprint race at Monza; the second successive season where the drivers' championship was secured before the final round. Maldonado, driving for Rapax, became the series' most successful driver with six victories during the season, gained in successive feature races to take him to a total of ten victories. Maldonado won the championship by sixteen points ahead of Barwa Addax's Sergio Pérez, who took five victories during the season, taking a pair of feature race wins and three sprint wins. Jules Bianchi finished as top main series rookie in third for ART Grand Prix, after coming at the head of a four-driver battle for the position. Dani Clos finished a point behind Bianchi for Racing Engineering, winning a sprint race in Istanbul, with British duo Sam Bird – a race-winner at Monza – and Oliver Turvey taking fifth and sixth places. Seven other drivers took victories, mainly coming in the reverse-grid races; only Charles Pic – tenth overall – took a feature race win in Montmeló. Sprint wins were taken by Fabio Leimer in Montmeló, Jérôme d'Ambrosio in Monaco, Marcus Ericsson in Valencia, Giacomo Ricci in Mogyoród, Christian Vietoris at Monza and Davide Valsecchi in Abu Dhabi.

In the teams' championship, it was Rapax that prevailed in a three-team battle in Abu Dhabi. Heading into the final race, Barwa Addax held a one-point advantage over Rapax, with ART nine points behind Addax in third. In the final race, only Rapax picked up points with a second place with fastest lap for Luiz Razia, which gave Rapax a five-point – 115 points to 110 – championship win over Barwa Addax. ART finished third on 100 points, ahead of Racing Engineering on 80 and iSport International on 78 in fifth position.

Teams and drivers

The season had been expected to see 26 cars running, but ongoing financial problems sidelined Durango indefinitely. As there was a new team-entry-selection process scheduled for 2011, series organisers decided it was not worth a new team joining for a single season, as there would be no guarantee they would be on the grid in 2011.

TeamNo.Driver nameRounds
FRA ART Grand Prix1FRA Jules BianchiAll
2GBR Sam BirdAll
ESP Barwa Addax Team3NLD Giedo van der GardeAll
4MEX Sergio PérezAll
GBR Super Nova Racing5CZE Josef Král1–4, 10
ITA Luca Filippi5–9
6SWE Marcus EricssonAll
ESP Racing Engineering7ESP Dani ClosAll
8DEU Christian Vietoris1–9
CHN Ho-Pin Tung10
GBR iSport International9GBR Oliver TurveyAll
10ITA Davide ValsecchiAll
FRA DAMS11BEL Jérôme d'Ambrosio1–5, 7–10
FRA Romain Grosjean6
12CHN Ho-Pin Tung1–7
FRA Romain Grosjean8–10
ITA Rapax14BRA Luiz RaziaAll
15VEN Pastor MaldonadoAll
GBR Arden International16FRA Charles PicAll
17VEN Rodolfo GonzálezAll
PRT Ocean Racing Technology18GBR Max ChiltonAll
19CHE Fabio LeimerAll
ITA Scuderia Coloni20BRA Alberto Valerio1–7
PRT Álvaro Parente8–9
GBR James Jakes10
21BGR Vladimir Arabadzhiev1–8
NZL Brendon Hartley9–10
ITA Trident Racing24VEN Johnny Cecotto Jr.1–8
ITA Edoardo Piscopo9
ITA Federico Leo10
25ZAF Adrian ZauggAll
GBR DPR26ROU Michael HerckAll
27ITA Giacomo Ricci1–7
ITA Fabrizio Crestani8–10
Sources:

Driver changes

;Changed teams A number of drivers changed teams over the off-season between the end of the 2009 main series and the 2010 season. David Price Racing driver Johnny Cecotto Jr. moved across to the Trident Racing team, in effect replacing Rodolfo González, who moved across to Arden International. The Barwa Addax Team had two new drivers for the season, with Giedo van der Garde moving from iSport International and Sergio Pérez leaving Arden International to partner him; Addax drivers in 2009, Romain Grosjean and Davide Valsecchi joined DAMS and iSport respectively, Grosjean's signing being in mid-season rather than at the start of the season. Other moves saw Pastor Maldonado leaving ART Grand Prix to join Rapax and was partnered by Luiz Razia who had been a race-winner with Scuderia Coloni in 2009. Alberto Valerio moved the other way to Razia and joined Scuderia Coloni, with Álvaro Parente joining him mid-season having last driven for Ocean Racing Technology twelve months prior.

;Entering or Re-Entering GP2 Many drivers joined the series from a raft of other junior formulae series as part of a driver's progression to the higher echelons of professional motor racing. Ho-Pin Tung joined DAMS after a season in Superleague Formula competing in the colours of Turkish side Galatasaray, while James Jakes contested the final meeting at Abu Dhabi after a season competing for Manor Racing in the inaugural GP3 Series. Charles Pic, Oliver Turvey and Adrian Zaugg all moved across from the Formula Renault 3.5 Series via the GP2 Asia winter series to compete in the main series. Each of the drivers remained with the teams they competed in the Asia Series with; Pic with Arden International, Turvey with iSport International and Zaugg with Trident Racing. Brendon Hartley and Federico Leo also joined from the series, but they only contested selected races towards the end of the campaign. Fabrizio Crestani and Edoardo Piscopo both competed for DAMS in Auto GP but also forayed into GP2 with DPR and Trident respectively; Crestani moving into the series for the first time.

The end of the International Formula Master series saw three drivers moving into GP2 from that particular series; champion Fabio Leimer joined Ocean Racing Technology from Jenzer Motorsport, while JD Motorsport team-mates Vladimir Arabadzhiev and Josef Král joined Scuderia Coloni and Super Nova Racing respectively. There was also a number of graduates from the major Formula Three series held around the world. Formula 3 Euro Series champion Jules Bianchi remained with his Formula Three team ART Grand Prix for his graduation into GP2, and was joined by former rival Sam Bird, while runner-up Christian Vietoris joined Racing Engineering. All-Japan Formula Three Championship winner Marcus Ericsson joined Super Nova Racing after one round with the team in GP2 Asia, while British Formula 3 Championship front-runner Max Chilton left Carlin Motorsport to partner Leimer at Ocean Racing Technology.

;Leaving GP2 Five drivers left the championship – including the top three drivers – after securing drives in Formula One. Champion Nico Hülkenberg was signed up by Williams F1 to partner Rubens Barrichello, runner-up Vitaly Petrov swapped the Barwa Addax Team for the Renault F1 team to replace Romain Grosjean, and Kamui Kobayashi joined Sauber after several races replacing Timo Glock at Toyota Racing. Karun Chandhok and Lucas di Grassi also graduated, signing for new teams Hispania Racing and Virgin Racing respectively.

Stefano Coletti swapped the Durango team for a place in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series with Comtec Racing, where he was joined by another Durango driver Nelson Panciatici, who signed for Junior Lotus Racing. Franck Perera and Davide Rigon moved back to Superleague Formula, where they would encounter mixed fortunes, with Perera failing to win a race and Rigon becoming season champion. Edoardo Mortara left Arden International for a return to the Formula 3 Euro Series with the crack Signature outfit with whom he had won the Macau Grand Prix with, in 2009. Ricardo Teixeira moved into the FIA Formula Two Championship while Andreas Zuber competed in the inaugural FIA GT1 World Championship with Phoenix Racing / Carsport, as well as a sporadic appearance in the EuroBOSS Series. Diego Nunes returned to Brazil to compete in the Stock Car Brasil series with RC3 Bassani Racing, Javier Villa moved into touring car specification series, competing in the Spanish Mini Championship, while Roldán Rodríguez decided to take a sabbatical from racing after his GP2 Asia campaign.

;Midseason Changes A number of midseason changes were also made during the season, to replace other drivers. Super Nova Racing's Josef Král suffered stable fractures to two of his vertebrae in an accident with Rodolfo González in Valencia. Luca Filippi took his place at Super Nova Racing until Král returned in Abu Dhabi. Romain Grosjean returned to the series, making a one-off appearance at Hockenheim for DAMS. He replaced Jérôme d'Ambrosio at the meeting. After Ho-Pin Tung's injury at the Hungaroring, Grosjean replaced him at Spa-Francorchamps and Monza. Álvaro Parente returned to the series at Spa-Francorchamps replacing Alberto Valerio at Scuderia Coloni. Fabrizio Crestani made his main series début at Spa-Francorchamps replacing compatriot Giacomo Ricci at DPR. Edoardo Piscopo made his main series début at Monza, replacing Johnny Cecotto Jr. at Trident Racing. Brendon Hartley also made his first GP2 appearance at Monza, replacing Vladimir Arabadzhiev at Scuderia Coloni. Ho-Pin Tung made his return from injury at Abu Dhabi, replacing Christian Vietoris after he needed surgery for appendicitis. James Jakes and Federico Leo also their main series débuts in Abu Dhabi, replacing Álvaro Parente at Scuderia Coloni and Edoardo Piscopo at Trident Racing respectively.

2010 schedule

The 2010 calendar was officially announced on 18 December 2009. The series had been expected to consist of eleven rounds, up one from 2009. It was due to support all the European Formula One events, race at a stand-alone event in Portimão for the second year in a row, and the season finale to be held in Abu Dhabi. On 8 May 2010, it was announced that the Portimão round would be cancelled and not be replaced.

RoundLocationCircuitDateTimeTyresSupportingLocalUTC1FS2FS3FS4FS5FS6FS7FS8FS9FS10FS
ESP Montmeló, SpainCircuit de Catalunya8 May15:4013:40Hard**
9 May10:3508:35
MCO Monte Carlo, MonacoCircuit de Monaco14 May11:1509:15Super Soft**
15 May16:1014:10
TUR Istanbul, TurkeyIstanbul Park29 May15:4012:40Medium**
30 May11:3508:35
ESP Valencia, SpainValencia Street Circuit26 June15:4013:40Soft**
27 June10:3508:35
UK Silverstone, Great BritainSilverstone Circuit10 July14:4013:40Medium**
11 July09:3508:35
GER Hockenheim, GermanyHockenheimring24 July15:4013:40Medium**
25 July10:3508:35
HUN Mogyoród, HungaryHungaroring31 July15:4013:40Soft**
1 August10:3508:35
BEL Stavelot, BelgiumCircuit de Spa-Francorchamps28 August15:4013:40Medium**
29 August10:3508:35
ITA Monza, ItalyAutodromo Nazionale Monza11 September15:4013:40Hard**
12 September10:3508:35
UAE Yas Island, Abu DhabiYas Marina Circuit13 November11:0007:00Medium**
14 November13:3009:30
Source:

The following rounds were included on the provisional calendars published by the FIA but were cancelled:

RoundLocationCircuitDateSupportingFS
POR Portimão, PortugalAutódromo Internacional do Algarve19 JuneGP3 Series
20 June

Results

RoundCircuitPole positionFastest lapWinning driverWinning teamReport1FS2FS3FS4FS5FS6FS7FS8FS9FS10FS
ESP Circuit de CatalunyaFRA Jules BianchiGBR Sam BirdFRA Charles PicGBR Arden InternationalReport
CHE Fabio LeimerCHE Fabio LeimerPRT Ocean Racing Technology
MCO Circuit de MonacoESP Dani ClosMEX Sergio PérezMEX Sergio PérezESP Barwa Addax TeamReport
GBR Sam BirdBEL Jérôme d'AmbrosioFRA DAMS
TUR Istanbul ParkITA Davide ValsecchiVEN Pastor MaldonadoVEN Pastor MaldonadoITA RapaxReport
GBRESP Dani ClosESP Racing Engineering
ESP Valencia Street CircuitMEX Sergio PérezVEN Pastor MaldonadoVEN Pastor MaldonadoITA RapaxReport
MEXSWE Marcus EricssonGBR Super Nova Racing
GBR Silverstone CircuitFRA Jules BianchiVEN Pastor MaldonadoVEN Pastor MaldonadoITA RapaxReport
MEX Sergio PérezMEX Sergio PérezESP Barwa Addax Team
DEU HockenheimringFRA Charles PicFRA Jules BianchiVEN Pastor MaldonadoITA RapaxReport
MEX Sergio PérezMEX Sergio PérezESP Barwa Addax Team
HUN HungaroringGBR Sam BirdVEN Pastor MaldonadoVEN Pastor MaldonadoITA RapaxReport
ROUITA Giacomo RicciGBR DPR
BEL Circuit de Spa-FrancorchampsBEL Jérôme d'AmbrosioITAVEN Pastor MaldonadoITA RapaxReport
MEX Sergio PérezMEX Sergio PérezESP Barwa Addax Team
ITA Autodromo Nazionale MonzaFRA Jules BianchiGBR Sam BirdGBR Sam BirdFRA ART Grand PrixReport
GBR Sam BirdDEU Christian VietorisESP Racing Engineering
ARE Yas Marina CircuitGBR Oliver TurveyMEX Sergio PérezMEX Sergio PérezESP Barwa Addax TeamReport
NLDITA Davide ValsecchiGBR iSport International
Source:

Championship standings

;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

PositionPoints
1st2nd
108

;Sprint race points Points are awarded to the top 6 classified finishers.

PositionPoints
1st2nd
65

Drivers' Championship

PosDriverCAT
ESPMON
MCOIST
TURVAL
ESPSIL
GBRHOC
DEUHUN
HUNSPA
BELMNZ
ITAYMC
AREPoints18727135245154864773983192910281128122113161414151316121711189198205214224233243253262271280290300310320PosDriverCAT
ESPMON
MCOIST
TURVAL
ESPSIL
GBRHOC
DEUHUN
HUNSPA
BELMNZ
ITAYMC
AREPoints
VEN Pastor Maldonado63211161414120†1DSQ1RetRetRet178
MEX Sergio Pérez4Ret16DSQ7111651213Ret71Ret131Ret
FRA Jules BianchiRet1243Ret132Ret2554RetDNS14Ret241817
ESP Dani Clos363Ret81573346167RetDNSRet1244
GBR Sam Bird9418103103104DNS14513RetRet12133Ret
GBR Oliver Turvey5515151418Ret128282456536216
NLD Giedo van der Garde209624342971295492RetRetRet19
ITA Davide Valsecchi1011Ret16241067617189318891651
DEU Christian VietorisRet1814DNS7Ret12Ret610Ret102211Ret41
FRA Charles Pic17117RetDNS651083171194Ret1182010
BRA Luiz Razia727552RetRetRet15Ret1310Ret1610Ret1072
BEL Jérôme d'AmbrosioRet1381108Ret811116RetRetRet52147
ITA Giacomo Ricci2817RetRet17RetRet131216†1181
FRA Romain Grosjean2019†361317†63
PRT Álvaro Parente23129
ROU Michael Herck172116Ret65832214987RetRet13RetRet169
SWE Marcus Ericsson11Ret129RetRet7112186Ret1210137Ret1111Ret
ZAF Adrian Zaugg1615Ret12RetRet141515217315815967RetDNS
CHE Fabio Leimer81Ret171315RetRet171321†RetRet1112RetRetDNSRet14
ITA Luca Filippi2091071465RetRet14
VEN Rodolfo González151410Ret1616RetRet162018RetRet1584RetRet1015
BRA Alberto Valerio14Ret5Ret17†199Ret14221112Ret12
VEN Johnny Cecotto Jr.Ret17941212Ret14182313RetRet1310Ret
CZE Josef Král12191381514RetRet85
GBR Max Chilton1816Ret14911Ret111919191617161711851211
ITA Edoardo Piscopo7Ret
NZL Brendon HartleyRetRet96
CHN Ho-Pin Tung1310RetRet119Ret13Ret15Ret14RetDNSRet12
BGR Vladimir Arabadzhiev1920Ret13RetRet13†921171515181419Ret
ITA Fabrizio CrestaniRet1410151313
GBR James Jakes1518
ITA Federico Leo19Ret
Sources:

|} Notes:

  • † — Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.

Teams' Championship

PosTeamCar
No.CAT
ESPMON
MCOIST
TURVAL
ESPSIL
GBRHOC
DEUHUN
HUNSPA
BELMNZ
ITAYMC
AREPoints111521103100480578635732828919101811141211PosTeamCar
No.CAT
ESPMON
MCOIST
TURVAL
ESPSIL
GBRHOC
DEUHUN
HUNSPA
BELMNZ
ITAYMC
AREPoints
ITA Rapax14727552RetRetRet15Ret1310Ret1610Ret1072
1563211161414120†1DSQ1RetRetRet178
ESP Barwa Addax Team3209624342971295492RetRetRet19
44Ret16DSQ7111651213Ret71Ret131Ret
FRA ART Grand Prix1Ret1243Ret132Ret2554RetDNS14Ret241817
29418103103104DNS14513RetRet12133Ret
ESP Racing Engineering7363Ret81573346167RetDNSRet1244
8Ret1814DNS7Ret12Ret610Ret102211Ret41Ret12
GBR iSport International95515151418Ret128282456536216
101011Ret16241067617189318891651
FRA DAMS11Ret1381108Ret811112019†6RetRetRet52147
121310RetRet119Ret13Ret15Ret14RetDNS361317†63
GBR Arden International1617117RetDNS651083171194Ret1182010
17151410Ret1616RetRet162018RetRet1584RetRet1015
GBR DPR26172116Ret65832214987RetRet13RetRet169
272817RetRet17RetRet131216†1181Ret1410151313
GBR Super Nova Racing512191381514RetRet2091071465RetRet1485
611Ret129RetRet7112186Ret1210137Ret1111Ret
ITA Scuderia Coloni2014Ret5Ret17†199Ret14221112Ret12231291518
211920Ret13RetRet13†921171515181419RetRetRet96
ITA Trident Racing24Ret17941212Ret14182313RetRet1310Ret7Ret19Ret
251615Ret12RetRet141515217315815967RetDNS
PRT Ocean Racing Technology181816Ret14911Ret111919191617161711851211
1981Ret171315RetRet171321†RetRet1112RetRetDNSRet14
Sources:

|} Notes:

  • † — Drivers did not finish the race, but were classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.

Notes

References

References

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  5. English, Steven. (2009-11-30). "ART signs Bird for GP2 season". [[Haymarket Group.
  6. O'Leary, Jamie. (2009-11-18). "Van der Garde joins Addax for 2010". [[Haymarket Group.
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  33. (2010-01-12). "Roldán Rodríguez anuncia que no competirá la próxima temporada". Vocento.
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  43. "GP2 Series Standings 2010". Motorsport Stats.
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