20/08/2008
NEWS STORY
The Bridgestone-supported GP2 Series heads to the Spanish city of Valencia for the eighth round of the season where the hotly contested championship will see the F1 stars of tomorrow race on the dramatic new course which runs through the streets of Spain's third largest city.
The 5.44 km Valencia track will be a venture into the unknown for the GP2 Series with the 25 turns on a lap giving the drivers plenty to think about as they learn the course, and seek out the best racing lines and overtaking opportunities.
For teams, finding a good set-up on this street course with no baseline data from previous events will be the challenge. Only one previous race meeting has been held on the track, and although some GP2 drivers did compete in this, it will be the first time a GP2 car has taken to the course, meaning that the lessons learnt in the half hour practice session will be vital.
The GP2 Series has raced previously in Valencia, at the permanent Circuit de Valencia - Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo. In 2006, the season started there and races were won by Nelson Piquet (Piquet Sports) and Michael Ammermuller (Arden). Last year the season finale took place in Valencia, and reigning champion Timo Glock was crowned there. Glock won one race for his iSport team, while Campos driver Vitaly Petrov won the other race. Whilst Glock will be racing on the streets for the Panasonic Toyota Racing Formula One team, Petrov will be trying to score a GP2 win on the streets this season, once more for the Campos squad.
Heading to Valencia, Giorgio Pantano (Racing Engineering) leads the championship by a reduced margin with 65 points from Bruno Senna (iSport) on 58. Lucas di Grassi (Campos) is in third place on 39 points. The teams' championship is led by iSport with 89 points, from Racing Engineering on 71. Campos are in third position with 60 points.
Hirohide Hamashima - Director of Bridgestone Motorsport Tyre Development: Valencia is a new street circuit added to the Formula One and GP2 calendars this season. The surface will be very smooth and in terms of overall speed the track is expected not to be so quick. GP2 will use the medium compound Bridgestone Potenza racing slick in Valencia and our choice of tyre specification is a result of simulations by the F1 teams. The first sector consists of tight corners and car balance will be very important if drivers are to be fast through here. The downforce effect at this venue will not be so high. It will be an interesting challenge for the teams and we look forward to seeing how tyre performance can be maximised at this new track.