2011 AutoGP Silly Season

[Frosty11]

AutoGp Silly Season 2011:

DAMS
CharouzGravity
Super Nova ??
Trident ??
RP Motorsport?
Campos ??
Edil Cris ??
TP Formula??

any other teams??

No clue on who the drivers could be
but Luca Fillipi said that his main target for this year was AutoGP

[Bezzen]

The drivers and teams who tested in Valencia last week were:

Giovanni Venturini (Durango)
Giuseppe Cipriani (Durango)
Fabio Onidi (Lazarus)
Fabrizio Crestani (Lazarus)
Marco Barba (Campos)
Adrian Campos Jr. (Campos)

Did I forget anyone?

[formula_fan]

That's seriously weak, 6 drivers and one is a middle aged man. Are there more looking to do it or was this just a private test day?

[Hawkwood]

With the series' 'ranking' compared to GP2/WSR etc most drivers won't starting looking at Auto GP until those other series are full, so it could be a little while yet I think before the grid fills up.

[NaBUru38]

2011 Auto GP calendar:

May 15 - Monza
June 5 - Marrakech
June 19 - Brno
July 17 - Donington Park
July 31 - Oschersleben
August 21 - Bucharest
September 4 - Cheste

Bucharest is a stand-alone race, whereas the others are WTCC supporting.

[WSR Fan]

Giovanni Venturini and Giuseppe Cipriani join Durango for the 2011 season:

http://www.autogp.org/en/news.php?id=0276

[cappra250]

Kevin Ceccon and Adrien Tambay are suposed to join the series.

[Frosty11]

crestani is joining lazarus for 2011

[WSR Fan]

http://www.autogp.org/en/news.php?id=0282

Daniel de Jong and MP Motorsport join the series for 2011.

A few days ago he also signed for Comtec Racing in FR3.5, with both series due to race at Monza over the weekend of 14/15 May. My question is will it be logistically possible (and practical) for him to take part in both events on the same weekend?

[Hawkwood]

Of course it'll be possible, the races being in the same place will only make it easier - it's when he has to be in two different places at the same time that his problems will start

[formula_fan]

Haven't heard anything here for a while, who has signed for Auto GP this year so far? I heard a rumour that the series may not end up running this year, anyone got any better info?

[skells22]

the names that posters have posted might help you out there.

[formula_fan]

Originally Posted by skells22

the names that posters have posted might help you out there.

I'm well aware of that. I was interested if anyone had any more news other than just 6 drivers announced so far for this year?

[runshaw]

Marco Barba will race for Campos, he's the most recent signing I think.

[WSR Fan]

Samuele Buttarelli joins Ombra Racing:

http://www.autogp.org/en/news.php?id=0296

So, we now have eight drivers officially confirmed for the 2011 season:

Campos Racing: Marco Barba
Durango: Giuseppe Cipriani, Giovanni Venturini
Lazarus: Fabrizio Crestani, Fabio Onidi
MP Motorsport: Daniel de Jong
Ombra Racing: Samuele Buttarelli, Kevin Ceccon

And as a reminder, the first pre-season test takes place at Barcelona next week (23/24 March).

[skells22]

just a reminder that the June 5 date will be changing. rumors say it be the Hungary F1 Grand Prix track. still wating on word from FIA

[WSR Fan]

The entry list for the Barcelona test has just been released and reads as follows:

DAMS
Sergey Afanasiev - Rio Haryanto - Adrien Tambay
Ombra
Kevin Ceccon - Samuel Buttarelli
Durango
Giovanni Venturini - Giuseppe Cipriani
Super Nova
Adrian Zaugg - Bruno Mendez
Lazarus
Fabrizio Crestani - Fabio Onidi
TP Formula
Luca Filippi - Chris Van der Drift
Campos
Jon Lancaster - Marco Barba

Very interesting line-up it is as well. Nice to see Van der Drift back in action after his accident last year and hopefully he has the finance to do the whole season.

[WSR Fan]

Morning session times from Barcelona:

1. Giovanni Venturini     Durango       1:33.142
2. Adrian Zaugg           Super Nova    1:33.426   +0.284
3. Luca Filippi           TP Formula    1:33.648   +0.506
4. Marco Barba            Campos        1:33.667   +0.525
5. Fabrizio Crestani      Lazarus       1:34.029   +0.887
6. Adrien Tambay          DAMS          1:34.174   +1.032
7. Fabio Onidi            Lazarus       1:34.564   +1.422
8. Jon Lancaster          Campos        1:35.008   +1.866
9. Sergei Afanasiev       DAMS          1:35.134   +1.992
10. Rio Haryanto          DAMS          1:35.201   +2.059
11. Kevin Ceccon          Ombra         1:35.974   +2.832
12. Samuele Buttarelli    Ombra         1:37.761   +4.619
13. Giuseppe Cipriani     Durango       1:39.528   +6.386

Afanasiev is now confirmed at DAMS, and TP Formula are due to run a second car tomorrow for Italian F3 frontrunner Daniel Mancinelli.

[formula_fan]

What happened to Van der Drift and Mendes?

[runshaw]

Originally Posted by formula_fan

What happened to Van der Drift and Mendes?

Both of them are now running in the afternoon session, there is live timing on the website. Filippi is quickest with a 1:32.676. What are the World Series times around here? Aren't they 32's?

[WSR Fan]

Vergne did a 1:34.4 at the recent test, but Hartley did a 1:32.8 in testing last October, so they seem to be broadly similar (at this track at least).

Afternoon session times:

1. Luca Filippi           Super Nova    1:32.676
2. Kevin Ceccon           Ombra         1:33.208   +0.532
3. Giovanni Venturini     Durango       1:33.543   +0.867
4. Jon Lancaster          Campos        1:33.620   +0.944
5. Adrien Tambay          DAMS          1:33.686   +1.010
6. Rio Haryanto           DAMS          1:34.209   +1.533
7. Fabrizio Crestani      Lazarus       1:34.332   +1.656
8. Marco Barba            Campos        1:34.493   +1.817
9. Fabio Onidi            Lazarus       1:34.549   +1.873
10. Bruno Mendez          Super Nova    1:34.653   +1.977
11. Samuele Buttarelli    Ombra         1:35.029   +2.353
12. Chris van der Drift   TP Formula    1:35.130   +2.454
13. Sergei Afanasiev      DAMS          1:35.268   +2.592
14. Giuseppe Cipriani     Durango       1:36.994   +4.318

[skells22]

Update. these open wheels cars will support the Hugaroring round of the WTCC. that the replacement track for them for round 2.

[skells22]

another update, no streets of Bucharest for them and therefore for the 2nd time this season it is find a replacemnt track. reason not got right grade for track.

[jondownunder]

Adam Carroll to race for Campos Racing (replacing Marco Barba, who is taking a sabbatical from racing) for the remainder of the year, starting this weekend at Donington Park:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/93070

Really glad I'm going to Donington now

Should be a good way for Carroll to keep race fit, and he should run well with prior experience of the Lola in A1GP form. Hope he ends up with a full time IndyCar drive soon.

[Rf1 Fan]

Big financial conflict between Jean Paul Driot and Charouz.

Tambay won't race this week-end and they parting company from both auto gp and FR3.5 series.