2006 GP2 Series season

2006 GP2 Series season
Previous: 2005 Next: 2007

The 2006 GP2 Series season began at Valencia, Spain on 8 April 2006 and ended in Monza, Italy on 10 September 2006. The season was won by Briton Lewis Hamilton, with Brazilian Nelson Angelo Piquet finishing second.

2006 GP2 car modifications

The chassis

The 2006 specification GP2 Car has been designed by Dallara Automobili. The 2006 GP2 car features a biplane rear wing, with the triplane rear wing used in 2005 only to be used at the Monaco race. The front upper and lower wishbones have been reinforced, as have the front and rear suspension uprights.

Engine

The 4 litre V8 engine features internal, cartographic and software upgrades designed to improve performance and fuel consumption.

The gearbox

The 2006 gearbox has been manufactured by GearTek, and features an 8 position barrel, with ratchet body and software upgrades, as well as a new transverse shafts fixing system designed to facilitate improved gear selection.

The tyres

The tyres supplied by Bridgestone for the 2006 season are slick, not featuring the grooves seen in the 2005 season. Bridgestone will supply a soft, medium, and hard compound tire, with the tyre choice being made by Bridgestone and the GP2 Series prior to each event. The wet specification tyre remains the same as 2005.

Other parts

Brembo is supplying a new development of monobloc brake calipers and disc bells, which are exclusive to GP2.

The car also features internal cooling upgrades, a new water radiator, radiator duct, oil/water heat exchanger, modified oil degazer, new oil and water pipes and new heat exchanger fixing brackets.

Sporting regulations changes

The only change to the sporting regulations for the 2006 season is that drivers will only be awarded a single point for fastest lap in a race, rather than the two points that were awarded in 2005. The driver must now also start the race from his allocated grid position to be eligible to claim the fastest lap.

Season summary

Nelson Piquet, Jr. started the season on high note, winning first race at Valencia ahead of two rookies, Lewis Hamilton and Adrián Vallés. The latter one failed to score in the rest of the season apart from one point for fastest lap at Barcelona. In a sprint race, Vallés was involved in a collision with Adam Carroll who rolled multiple times. The sprint race was won by Michael Ammermüller who had promising start to the season but failed to score during last six weekends.

Gianmaria Bruni and Ernesto Viso then shared victories at Imola, where Hamilton failed to score, after being black-flagged in feature race and therefore starting sprint race from back of the grid. He recovered well to win both races at Nürburgring, where Piquet had bad weekend. He had taken pole position but had big crash following car failure in the feature race. He also failed to score in the sprint.

Hamilton was on course to win feature race at Barcelona too, but he collided with his team-mate Alexandre Prémat on the last lap. The Frenchman went on to win with Hamilton second. Viso took second victory of the season by winning the sprint. Hamilton then went to win three races in a row, taking single Monaco event where Nicolas Lapierre and Olivier Pla were injured and missed some races. At his home circuit in Silverstone Hamilton won the feature and then the sprint, where he overtook Clivio Piccione and Piquet in one move.

There were few notable driver changes during the early season. Giorgio Pantano returned to the series with after missing first three rounds and Timo Glock moved from BCN to iSport between Monaco and British rounds. Both were serious contenders for race wins for the rest of the season and they shared victories at Magny-Cours. Glock also won at Hockenheim after overtaking José María López on the final lap.

At this point, Hamilton had massive 26-point lead over Piquet, but the Brazilian bounced back with perfect weekend at Hungary, taking pole, two wins and two fastest laps. Hamilton spun in qualifying and started feature race from back of the grid. He failed to score there but took second place in the wet Sunday sprint.

Piquet's form continued in Turkey, where he won feature race from pole. Hamilton was second, and in the sprint, Hamilton recovered well from early spin to take 2nd place, while Piquet had to settle for 5th. Andreas Zuber took advantage of his front row starting position and won the race.

Hamilton led by ten points before final weekend in Monza. Piquet cut the lead to eight by taking pole. Pantano beat both of them in the feature race and had set fastest lap as well. Piquet finished second and Hamilton third, so it looked like championship would be decided in final race. However, Pantano was deemed to have ignored yellow flags on his fastest lap so that time was disallowed, giving a point to Hamilton who now clinched the title. Pantano made fantastic start in the sprint and went from 8th to 1st before first corner, and went on to win the race. Hamilton followed and took 2nd, beating Piquet by 12 points in the end.

Teams and drivers

Team No. Driver Rounds
France ART Grand Prix 1 France Alexandre Prémat All
2 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton All
United Kingdom Arden International 3 Germany Michael Ammermüller All
4 France Nicolas Lapierre 1–5, 8–11
Switzerland Neel Jani 6–7
United Kingdom Super Nova Racing 5 Argentina José María López All
6 Malaysia Fairuz Fauzy All
United Kingdom iSport International 7 Venezuela E.J. Viso All
8 France Tristan Gommendy 1–5
Germany Timo Glock 6–11
Spain Racing Engineering 9 Republic of Ireland Adam Carroll All
10 Spain Javier Villa All
Brazil Piquet Sports 11 Brazil Nelson Piquet, Jr. All
12 Brazil Alexandre Sarnes Negrão All
France DAMS 14 Italy Ferdinando Monfardini All
15 France Franck Perera All
Italy Petrol Ofisi FMS International 16 Italy Luca Filippi 1–3
Italy Giorgio Pantano 4–11
17 Turkey Jason Tahincioglu All
Spain BCN Competicion 18 Japan Hiroki Yoshimoto All
19 Germany Timo Glock 1–5
Italy Luca Filippi 6–11
United Kingdom DPR Direxiv 20 France Olivier Pla 1–5, 7
United Kingdom Mike Conway 6
Russia Vitaly Petrov 8–11
21 Monaco Clivio Piccione All
Italy Durango 22 Brazil Lucas di Grassi All
23 Spain Sergio Hernández All
Spain Campos Racing 24 Spain Adrián Vallés All
25 Spain Félix Porteiro All
Italy Trident Racing 26 Italy Gianmaria Bruni All
27 United Arab Emirates Andreas Zuber All

Driver changes

Changed Teams
Entering GP2
Leaving GP2

Midseason changes

2006 Schedule

Off-season testing schedule

Date Location Circuit Fastest Driver Team Fastest Lap
2005
11 October France Le Castellet, France Circuit Paul Ricard Argentina José María López France ART Grand Prix 1:16.047[1]
12 October Brazil Nelson Piquet, Jr. United Kingdom Hitech/Piquet Racing 1:15.565[2]
9 November Spain Jerez, Spain Circuito Permante de Jerez Spain Borja García Spain BCN Competición 1:29.050[3]
10 November United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton France ART Grand Prix 1:28.657[4]
1 December France Le Castellet, France Circuit Paul Ricard Brazil Nelson Piquet, Jr. Brazil Piquet Sports 1:15.799[5]
2 December United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton France ART Grand Prix 1:28.173[6]
2006
22 February France Le Castellet, France Circuit Paul Ricard United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton France ART Grand Prix 1:13.830[7]
23 February Brazil Nelson Piquet, Jr. Brazil Piquet Sports 1:13.068[8]
16 March France Le Castellet, France Circuit Paul Ricard France Alexandre Prémat France ART Grand Prix 1:12.887[9]
17 March Argentina José María López United Kingdom Super Nova Racing 1:12.547[10]
28 March Spain Barcelona, Spain Circuit de Catalunya Brazil Nelson Piquet, Jr. Brazil Piquet Sports 1:23.215[11]
29 March France Franck Perera France DAMS 1:22.467[12]
5 April Spain Valencia, Spain Circuit de Valencia United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton France ART Grand Prix 1:19.362[13]
6 April United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton France ART Grand Prix 1:18.625[14]
28 June France Le Castellet, France Circuit Paul Ricard Germany Timo Glock United Kingdom iSport International 1:14.522[15]
29 June Argentina José María López United Kingdom Super Nova Racing 1:13.728[16]

Season Schedule

Round Location Circuit Date Supporting
1 R1 Spain Valencia, Spain Circuit de Valencia 8 April Stand-alone event
R2 9 April
2 R1 Italy Imola, Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari 22 April San Marino Grand Prix
R2 23 April
3 R1 Germany Nürburg, Germany Nürburgring 6 May European Grand Prix
R2 7 May
4 R1 Spain Barcelona, Spain Circuit de Catalunya 13 May Spanish Grand Prix
R2 14 May
5 R Monaco Monte Carlo, Monaco Circuit de Monaco 27 May Monaco Grand Prix
6 R1 United Kingdom Silverstone, Great Britain Silverstone Circuit 10 June British Grand Prix
R2 11 June
7 R1 France Magny-Cours, France Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours 15 July French Grand Prix
R2 16 July
8 R1 Germany Hockenheim, Germany Hockenheimring 29 July German Grand Prix
R2 30 July
9 R1 Hungary Budapest, Hungary Hungaroring 5 August Hungarian Grand Prix
R2 6 August
10 R1 Turkey Istanbul, Turkey Istanbul Park 26 August Turkish Grand Prix
R2 27 August
11 R1 Italy Monza, Italy Autodromo Nazionale Monza 9 September Italian Grand Prix
R2 10 September

Results

Round Circuit Pole Position Fastest Lap Winning Driver Winning Team Report
1 R1 Spain Circuit de Valencia Brazil Nelson Piquet, Jr. France Nicolas Lapierre Brazil Nelson Piquet, Jr. Brazil Piquet Sports Report
R2 Brazil Nelson Piquet, Jr. Germany Michael Ammermüller United Kingdom Arden International
2 R1 Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari Italy Gianmaria Bruni Italy Gianmaria Bruni Italy Gianmaria Bruni Italy Trident Racing Report
R2 Venezuela Ernesto Viso Venezuela Ernesto Viso United Kingdom iSport International
3 R1 Germany Nürburgring Brazil Nelson Piquet, Jr. United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton France ART Grand Prix Report
R2 Italy Gianmaria Bruni United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton France ART Grand Prix
4 R1 Spain Circuit de Catalunya Brazil Nelson Piquet, Jr. Spain Adrián Vallés France Alexandre Prémat France ART Grand Prix Report
R2 Italy Gianmaria Bruni Venezuela Ernesto Viso United Kingdom iSport International
5 R Monaco Circuit de Monaco United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Brazil Lucas di Grassi United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton France ART Grand Prix Report
6 R1 United Kingdom Silverstone Circuit United Kingdom Adam Carroll United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton France ART Grand Prix Report
R2 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton France ART Grand Prix
7 R1 France Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours Argentina José María López United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Germany Timo Glock United Kingdom iSport International Report
R2 Germany Timo Glock Italy Giorgio Pantano Italy Petrol Ofisi FMS International
8 R1 Germany Hockenheimring Italy Gianmaria Bruni France Alexandre Prémat Italy Gianmaria Bruni Italy Trident Racing Report
R2 Argentina José María López Germany Timo Glock United Kingdom iSport International
9 R1 Hungary Hungaroring Brazil Nelson Piquet, Jr. Brazil Nelson Piquet, Jr. Brazil Nelson Piquet, Jr. Brazil Piquet Sports Report
R2 Brazil Nelson Piquet, Jr. Brazil Nelson Piquet, Jr. Brazil Piquet Sports
10 R1 Turkey Istanbul Racing Circuit Brazil Nelson Piquet, Jr. Brazil Nelson Piquet, Jr. Brazil Nelson Piquet, Jr. Brazil Piquet Sports Report
R2 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton United Arab Emirates Andreas Zuber Italy Trident Racing
11 R1 Italy Autodromo Nazionale Monza Brazil Nelson Piquet, Jr. United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Italy Giorgio Pantano Italy Petrol Ofisi FMS International Report
R2 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Italy Giorgio Pantano Italy Petrol Ofisi FMS International

Championship standings

Drivers

Pos Driver VAL
Spain
SMR
Italy
EUR
Germany
ESP
Spain
MON
Monaco
GBR
United Kingdom
FRA
France
GER
Germany
HUN
Hungary
TUR
Turkey
ITA
Italy
Points
1 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton 2 6 DSQ 10 1 1 2 4 1 1 1 19 5 2 3 10 2 2 2 3 2 114
2 Brazil Nelson Piquet, Jr. 1 4 5 2 Ret 19† 4 2 12† 4 5 4 2 13 DNS 1 1 1 5 2 6 102
3 France Alexandre Prémat 9 Ret 4 Ret 2 17 1 3 3 6 Ret 2 3 19 Ret 6 3 3 7 5 Ret 66
4 Germany Timo Glock 16 8 7 4 17 Ret 11 10 Ret 2 6 1 4 3 1 2 5 4 4 Ret DNS 58
5 Italy Giorgio Pantano 9 7 Ret 5 4 6 1 4 5 3 13 Ret Ret 1 1 44
6 Venezuela Ernesto Viso 8 2 6 1 6 11 8 1 Ret Ret 8 10 Ret 5 4 4 4 Ret 13 Ret 10 42
7 Italy Gianmaria Bruni 6 5 1 Ret Ret 16 Ret 17 Ret Ret 15 Ret Ret 1 6 Ret 8 Ret 15 Ret 9 33
8 United Kingdom Adam Carroll 14 Ret Ret 12 3 5 10 12 Ret 3 2 20 14 6 8 7 Ret 6 3 Ret Ret 33
9 France Nicolas Lapierre 4 3 3 7 5 2 Ret Ret Ret 20 7 Ret Ret 14 6 6 4 32
10 Argentina José María López 5 Ret Ret 19† 4 3 Ret Ret NC Ret 14 3 Ret 7 2 8 Ret 9 11 Ret Ret 30
11 Germany Michael Ammermüller 7 1 2 Ret 10 6 3 8 7 Ret Ret 12 8 9 Ret Ret 11 13 Ret 12 Ret 25
12 Monaco Clivio Piccione Ret Ret Ret 16 11 8 16† Ret 4 7 3 13 Ret 8 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 7 3 18
13 Brazil Alexandre Sarnes Negrão 13 7 Ret 11 7 7 7 18 Ret Ret 12 5 Ret 16 9 5 Ret 8 Ret Ret Ret 13
14 United Arab Emirates Andreas Zuber Ret 13 Ret 8 14 Ret Ret 11 5 Ret Ret Ret 18 Ret 14 14 9 7 1 Ret NC 12
15 Japan Hiroki Yoshimoto Ret 12 8 3 8 4 Ret Ret Ret Ret 18† 9 Ret 23† Ret Ret Ret Ret 19 8 5 12
16 France Franck Perera 11 14 Ret 14 Ret 15 13 Ret 2 Ret 10 Ret 12 14 11 9 Ret 12 8 15† 15† 8
17 Brazil Lucas di Grassi 17 16† Ret Ret 18 13 12 9 11 Ret EX 7 6 Ret Ret 13 Ret 5 9 10 14 8
18 Spain Adrián Vallés 3 Ret 9 Ret Ret 14 18 16 Ret 9 Ret 15 13 18 Ret Ret 7 Ret 14 Ret 11 7
19 Italy Luca Filippi Ret Ret 11 5 Ret Ret Ret 9 Ret Ret 21 16 12 Ret 10 Ret 4 7 7
20 France Tristan Gommendy Ret 11 Ret 17 13 12 5 5 Ret 6
21 Italy Ferdinando Monfardini 12 Ret 12 9 Ret 10 6 6 9 Ret DNS 8 Ret Ret 12 11 6 18† 12 Ret Ret 6
22 Spain Félix Porteiro Ret Ret 10 6 16 Ret 17 Ret 6 8 DSQ 18 10 12 18 Ret 12 19† Ret Ret NC 5
23 Spain Sergio Hernández Ret Ret Ret 13 12 Ret Ret 13 8 10 EX 14 11 10 NC Ret Ret 11 10 13 Ret 1
24 Malaysia Fairuz Fauzy 15 10 Ret 15 19 9 Ret 14 10 12 7 Ret 15 22 10 16 Ret Ret Ret 14 10 0
25 Switzerland Neel Jani NC Ret 11 7 0
26 Spain Javier Villa 18 9 13 18 9 20 14 15 Ret 14 13 17 16 11 13 Ret 15† 15 16 9 Ret 0
27 France Olivier Pla 10 15 Ret 20† 15 Ret DSQ 20 Ret 16 9 0
28 Russia Vitaly Petrov 15 15 15 10 16 18 Ret 12 0
29 United Kingdom Mike Conway 11 11 0
30 Turkey Jason Tahincioglu Ret Ret Ret Ret DNS 18 15 19 Ret 13 16 Ret 17 17 17 Ret 14 17 17 11 13 0
Pos Driver VAL
Spain
SMR
Italy
EUR
Germany
ESP
Spain
MON
Monaco
GBR
United Kingdom
FRA
France
GER
Germany
HUN
Hungary
TUR
Turkey
ITA
Italy
Points
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Did not finish (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not participate
Excluded (EX)

Polesitter for the feature race on bold. Driver in italics has been awarded point for fastest lap.

Notes

Teams

Pos Team Car
No.
VAL
Spain
SMR
Italy
EUR
Germany
ESP
Spain
MON
Monaco
GBR
United Kingdom
FRA
France
GER
Germany
HUN
Hungary
TUR
Turkey
ITA
Italy
Points
1 France ART Grand Prix 1 9 Ret 4 Ret 2 17 1 3 3 6 Ret 2 3 19 Ret 6 3 3 7 5 Ret 180
2 2 6 DSQ 10 1 1 2 4 1 1 1 19 5 2 3 10 2 2 2 3 2
2 Brazil Piquet Sports 11 1 4 5 2 Ret 19† 4 2 12† 4 5 4 2 13 DNS 1 1 1 5 2 6 115
12 13 7 Ret 11 7 7 7 18 Ret Ret 12 5 Ret 16 9 5 Ret 8 Ret Ret Ret
3 United Kingdom iSport International 7 8 2 6 1 6 11 8 1 Ret Ret 8 10 Ret 5 4 4 4 Ret 13 Ret 10 101
8 Ret 11 Ret 17 13 12 5 5 Ret 2 6 1 4 3 1 2 5 4 4 Ret DNS
4 United Kingdom Arden International 3 7 1 2 Ret 10 6 3 8 7 Ret Ret 12 8 9 Ret Ret 11 13 Ret 12 Ret 57
4 4 3 3 7 5 2 Ret Ret Ret NC Ret 11 7 20 7 Ret Ret 14 6 6 4
5 Italy Petrol Ofisi FMS International 16 Ret Ret 11 5 Ret Ret 9 7 Ret 5 4 6 1 4 5 3 13 Ret Ret 1 1 46
17 Ret Ret Ret Ret DNS 18 15 19 Ret 13 16 Ret 17 17 17 Ret 14 17 17 11 13
6 Italy Trident Racing 26 6 5 1 Ret Ret 16 Ret 17 Ret Ret 15 Ret Ret 1 6 Ret 8 Ret 15 Ret 9 45
27 Ret 13 Ret 8 14 Ret Ret 11 5 Ret Ret Ret 18 Ret 14 14 9 7 1 Ret NC
7 Spain Racing Engineering 9 14 Ret Ret 12 3 5 10 12 Ret 3 2 20 14 6 8 7 Ret 6 3 Ret Ret 33
10 18 9 13 18 9 20 14 15 Ret 14 13 17 16 11 13 Ret 15† 15 16 9 Ret
8 United Kingdom Super Nova Racing 5 5 Ret Ret 19† 4 3 Ret Ret NC Ret 14 3 Ret 7 2 8 Ret 9 11 Ret Ret 30
6 15 10 Ret 15 19 9 Ret 14 10 12 7 Ret 15 22 10 16 Ret Ret Ret 14 10
9 Spain BCN Competición 18 Ret 12 8 3 8 4 Ret Ret Ret Ret 18† 9 Ret 23† Ret Ret Ret Ret 19 8 5 22
19 16 8 7 4 17 Ret 11 10 Ret Ret 9 Ret Ret 21 16 12 Ret 10 Ret 4 7
10 United Kingdom DPR Direxiv 20 10 15 Ret 20† 15 Ret DSQ 20 Ret 11 11 16 9 15 15 15 10 16 18 Ret 12 18
21 Ret Ret Ret 16 11 8 16† Ret 4 7 3 13 Ret 8 Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret 7 3
11 France DAMS 14 12 Ret 12 9 Ret 10 6 6 9 Ret DNS 8 Ret Ret 12 11 6 18† 12 Ret Ret 14
15 11 14 Ret 14 Ret 15 13 Ret 2 Ret 10 Ret 12 14 11 9 Ret 12 8 15† 15†
12 Spain Campos Racing 24 3 Ret 9 Ret Ret 14 18 16 Ret 9 Ret 15 13 18 Ret Ret 7 Ret 14 Ret 11 12
25 Ret Ret 10 6 16 Ret 17 Ret 6 8 DSQ 18 10 12 18 Ret 12 19† Ret Ret NC
13 Italy Durango 22 17 16† Ret Ret 18 13 12 9 11 Ret EX 7 6 Ret Ret 13 Ret 5 9 10 14 9
23 Ret Ret Ret 13 12 Ret Ret 13 8 10 EX 14 11 10 NC Ret Ret 11 10 13 Ret
Pos Team Car
No.
VAL
Spain
SMR
Italy
EUR
Germany
ESP
Spain
MON
Monaco
GBR
United Kingdom
FRA
France
GER
Germany
HUN
Hungary
TUR
Turkey
ITA
Italy
Points

References

  1. "Experience tells as Lopez heads day one at Ricard". Crash.net. 2005-10-11. Archived from the original on 2009-10-08. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  2. "Lap record gives Piquet best of test". Crash.net. 2005-10-12. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  3. "Garcia fastest in first Jerez session". Crash.net. 2005-11-09. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  4. "Hamilton's stunning debut complete". Crash.net. 2005-11-10. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  5. "Piquet tops day one, Lopez loses times". Crash.net. 2005-12-01. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  6. "Hamilton quickest as rain halts day two at Ricard". Crash.net. 2005-12-02. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  7. "Hamilton dominates first day of pre-season test". Crash.net. 2006-02-22. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  8. "Piquet edges day two of Ricard test". Crash.net. 2006-02-23. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  9. "Premat tops times at Ricard". Crash.net. 2006-03-16. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  10. "Lopez tops test with new Ricard record". Crash.net. 2006-03-17. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  11. "Piquet, Viso set pace on day one in Spain". Crash.net. 2006-03-28. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  12. "Perera quickest as Barca test ends". Crash.net. 2006-03-29. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  13. "ART on form as Valencia weekend opens". Crash.net. 2006-04-05. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  14. "Hamilton sets new standards as testing resumes in Valencia". Automobilsport.com. 2006-04-06. Retrieved 2013-09-14.
  15. "Glock quickest in Paul Ricard test". Crash.net. 2006-06-28. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  16. "Lopez tops second day at Ricard". Crash.net. 2006-06-29. Retrieved 2009-10-05.

External links

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