GP2 - Is no news good news?

[skyblue]

So the 15th November came and went, the embargo supposedly lifted and now we're supposed to be in awe of the fantastic arrangements and the big promotional package of GP2.

Am I too dumb and gone and missed this extravaganza of organisational excellence?

[Kicking-back]

Keep the faith!

[Russfeld]

Until when? 2007?

[Kicking-back]

It does appear they've got the PR battle very badly screwed up, I agree.

[Russfeld]

Racing, especially in the junior ranks where you're fighting for a few funded drivers/teams; is all about drip-pr. You need a small announcement each week to keep people's attention.

[bella]

i do hope the teams involved are better informed than the general public...

[skyblue]

I've been talking with 3 drivers who are in the process of putting budgets together for this series. Almost all have got smallish backers on board and I'm not surprised to hear that each is now under pressure from those existing sponsors to come up with details. You know how sponsors LOVE details. In two cases the existing modest backing is at risk.

In the meantime it's actually impossible for them to make proposals to serious bigger money backers with only a few internet pictures of a random car to go on.

This treatment of drivers, who incidentally are the clients, makes me madder than a rattlesnake.

[Mackmot]

They should change there details to World Series Renault, its more likely to happen.

[Don K]

Originally posted by bella
i do hope the teams involved are better informed than the general public...

That's not good enough.

Unless the teams are allowed to show that (secret) information to anybody who is considering to sponsor them ...

And I don't think that the (possible) sponsors have any way to estimate the amount of exposure they will get.

[Kicking-back]

Both will happen.

[climb]

understandable mpatience, but KB's right

[Russfeld]

Sooner is better, the kind of money it takes to run at the GP2 level is not so easy to just appear

[DanFlag]

Last night a spoke to two drivers agents, and both did not understand the strategy of GP2 management.

The "want to come out in a big bang" theory is pushing I a little too much at this time of year.

Must be practically impossible for teams and drivers to find sponsor for that series.

[Bobie]

So when is the Big Bang?

[Kicking-back]

Very soon - the skeleton of a website went on line yesterday.

[skyblue]

Where KB?

[Frank_White]

try <www.gp2series.com>

[Don K]

Originally posted by Frank_White
try <www.gp2series.com>

That site doesn't seem to work properly on a 800x600 screen.

(The right hand part of the text gets scrambled.)

[skyblue]

Doh! Of course. Got it. To me it's the usual car-centric scene. I just love sites that are a 5 minute 56K download per page (no-cache) and the way that they encourage huge numbers of the public to demonstrate their interest in finding more information about the 2nd most important series.

I'm sorry but the lack of vision continues. Lastly I hope the guy who invented flash is still kicking his own ass.

[jondownunder]

from formula-3000.net
The first season of the new GP2 championship will include some unusual features, including 22 races at 11 different circuits, and no qualifying.

The starting grid for the first race of the season, set to take place at Magny Cours in France on April 15th will be decided by a pre-season test at which all teams must attend, to be held at Paul Ricard.

The second round of the championship will take place the following morning, with the grid determined from the finishing order from Saturday's race, but with the top eight, points-scoring, cars starting in reverse order.

The finishing order from this, shorter, race will determine the starting order for the first race of the next weekend, with no grid reversal.

The move will ensure that nobody is able to dominate the championship like Vitantonio Liuzzi did in International F3000 this year.

Nice they're making things really obvious to those in attendance... why the hell should a test session at a different circuit determine the grid? And reverse grids just make me sick... along with success ballast such gimmicks make a mockery of any notion of this being a "sport"... the very reason I don't take an interest in BTCC etc. Drivers shouldn't be punished for dominating a series. If you invest all that money surely you want your results to be a true reflection of your talent?

[Kicking-back]

That story is pure speculation - it was an idea being kicked about by the teams.

I don't expect that one to be endorsed.

Two races per weekend is positive though, as long as the Saturday one is at least an hour long.

[Adam43]

The move will ensure that nobody is able to dominate the championship like Vitantonio Liuzzi did in International F3000 this year.

For a series that is trying to be an F1 feeder series, isn't it daft to try and stop the best from winning? Do we want to find out who is the fastest or who can come 8th in every other race.

[jondownunder]

Originally posted by Kicking-back
That story is pure speculation - it was an idea being kicked about by the teams.

Certainly hope that's the case But with no news from GP2 what are we to do but speculate? I agree two races per weekend would be a positive step though... should boost the F1 support package.

[DanFlag]

Amazing!!!!

[skyblue]

I really DO hope it comes together properly. Contrary to my posts I believe it will. Bernie, Flavio and Bruno Michel are a formidable team. I'm just so disapointed for the driver hoping to raise money at this stage.

I always thought it nonsensical that the cars were so underpowered since the Lola Zytec was introduced, and that some of the quick BOSS drivers were way ahead on big car experience.