19/06/2007
NEWS STORY
The GP2 Series 2007 "mid-season" test has begun this morning in the South of France, and some of the teams have a fairly unfamiliar look to them.
Over at GP2 Series champions ART Grand Prix, Michael Ammermuller is making a welcome return to action following a lengthy lay-off period due to a broken scaphoid bone. The German's two replacements (Mikhail Aleshi and Sebastein Buemi) both faired unexpectedly well in their GP2 debuts, and the pressure will be on Michael to get straight back on the pace.
Meanwhile down at FMS International, it looks as though former F1 driver Antonio Pizzonia will not be completing the remainder of the season for the Italian team. His spot at the test has been taken by GP2 Series race winner Ernesto Viso, who was somehow left without a seat at the start of the season. The Venezuelan will be hoping to match up to his countryman Pastor Maldonado's recent pace as he aims to make an impression with the team who could well be his new employers come Wednesday evening.
Another familiar face brought back into the fold is Sergio Hernandez. The amiable Spaniard has stepped into Sergio Jimenez's seat at Racing Engineering for this test. At present it is unclear whether this is a permanent change, but Sergio was visibly delighted to be back in the GP2 Series after his WTCC campaign came to a premature end a short time ago.
Down at Dams there's a GP2 Series debutant as Dutchman Henki Waldschmidt takes Kazuki Nakajima's place for one day. The Japanese driver is off testing for the Williams F1 team today, but will fly out to France tonight in order to fulfil GP2 duties on Wednesday.
Provided by the GP2 Series Media Service