2008–09 GP2 Asia Series season

2008–09 GP2 Asia Series season
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For the main series, see 2009 GP2 Series season.

The 2008–09 GP2 Asia Series season was the second season of the GP2 Asia Series. It began on 18 October 2008 and ended on 26 April 2009 and consisted of twelve races at six events.

All teams from the 2008 GP2 Series season except for Racing Engineering took part in the competition, with the thirteenth slot being filled by Qi-Meritus Mahara. The reigning champion Romain Grosjean did not defend his title. Kamui Kobayashi clinched the title with a fourth place at the penultimate race in Bahrain.

Entry list

Team No Driver Rounds
France ART Grand Prix 1 Japan Sakon Yamamoto[1] All
2 France Nelson Philippe[2] 1
Venezuela Pastor Maldonado[3] 2, 5–6
Germany Nico Hülkenberg[4] 3–4
United Kingdom Arden Motorsport 3 Brazil Luiz Razia[5] All
4 Finland Mika Mäki[6] 1
Netherlands Renger van der Zande[7] 2
Italy Edoardo Mortara[8] 3–6
Spain Barwa International Campos 5 Russia Vitaly Petrov[9] All
6 Mexico Sergio Pérez[2] All
France DAMS 7 Belgium Jérôme d'Ambrosio[2] All
8 Japan Kamui Kobayashi[2] All
United Kingdom GFH Team iSport 9 Netherlands Giedo van der Garde[10] All
10 Bahrain Hamad Al Fardan[11] All
United Kingdom Super Nova Racing 11 Spain Javier Villa[5] All
12 United Kingdom James Jakes[2] All
Italy FMS International 14 United Arab Emirates Andreas Zuber[2] 1–2
Venezuela Rodolfo González[12] 3–6
15 Taiwan Kevin Nai Chia Chen[2] All
Italy Durango 16 Italy Davide Valsecchi[13] All
17 Brazil Carlos Iaconelli[14] 1
Italy Michael Dalle Stelle[15] 2–6
Malaysia My Qi-Meritus Mahara 18 Malaysia Alex Yoong[16] 1–2
Italy Marco Bonanomi[17] 3–6
19 New Zealand Earl Bamber[18] 1–3
Portugal Álvaro Parente[19] 4–6
Italy Brazil Piquet GP 20 Spain Roldán Rodríguez[20] All
21 Brazil Diego Nunes[21] All
United Kingdom David Price Racing 22 Romania Michael Herck[22] All
23 Japan Yuhi Sekiguchi[22] 1
Italy Giacomo Ricci[23] 2–6
Spain BCN Competición*
Portugal Ocean Racing Technology		 24 Japan Hiroki Yoshimoto[2] 1
Netherlands Yelmer Buurman[24] 2–5
India Karun Chandhok[25] 6
25 Italy Luca Filippi[26] 1
Italy Fabrizio Crestani[24] 2–6
Italy Trident Racing 26 Italy Giacomo Ricci[2] 1
Brazil Alberto Valerio[23] 2
Italy Frankie Provenzano[27] 3–4
Portugal Ricardo Teixeira[28] 5–6
27 New Zealand Chris van der Drift[2] 1–2
Spain Adrián Vallés[27] 3
Italy Davide Rigon[29] 4–6

* – team was known as BCN Competición at round one in Shanghai, before Tiago Monteiro bought over the team's assets and renamed it as Ocean Racing Technology.[30]

Calendar

On 12 July, GP2 Series organisers announced a provisional calendar for their second season. Unlike the first season of the GP2 Asia Series, this season will start prior to the new year, and be expanded to six events from the previous five. The Indonesian round has been dropped, while Bahrain earns a second event and Shanghai earns its first GP2 races. Shanghai will also host the official GP2 Asia Series test session prior to the start of the season.[31]

The sprint race of the second round of the championship – at the Dubai Autodrome – was cancelled due to flooding.[32]

On 17 December, an alteration was made to the calendar, with the Losail International Circuit in Qatar replacing the February meeting in Dubai. The meeting was also moved to February 12–14 because the original date on the calendar was unsuitable, due to MotoGP testing. This event will also introduce night racing to GP2, following the circuit's lead with MotoGP and its support classes and also Formula One's night race in Singapore.[33]

Race Calendar

Round Circuit Country Date Pole Position Fastest Lap Winning Driver Winning Team Report
1 R1 China Shanghai International Circuit China 18 October Spain Roldán Rodríguez Japan Kamui Kobayashi Spain Roldán Rodríguez Brazil Piquet GP Report
R2 19 October Spain Javier Villa Italy Davide Valsecchi Italy Durango
2 R1 United Arab Emirates Dubai Autodrome United Arab Emirates 5 December Japan Kamui Kobayashi Japan Kamui Kobayashi Japan Kamui Kobayashi France DAMS Report
R2 6 December Race cancelled
3 R1 Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit Bahrain 23 January Germany Nico Hülkenberg Japan Kamui Kobayashi Japan Kamui Kobayashi France DAMS Report
R2 24 January Belgium Jérôme d'Ambrosio Mexico Sergio Pérez Spain Barwa International Campos
4 R1 Qatar Losail International Circuit Qatar 13 February Germany Nico Hülkenberg Germany Nico Hülkenberg Germany Nico Hülkenberg France ART Grand Prix Report
R2 14 February Mexico Sergio Pérez Mexico Sergio Pérez Spain Barwa International Campos
5 R1 Malaysia Sepang International Circuit Malaysia 4 April Belgium Jérôme d'Ambrosio United Kingdom James Jakes Brazil Diego Nunes Brazil Piquet GP Report
R2 5 April Portugal Álvaro Parente Russia Vitaly Petrov Spain Barwa International Campos
6 R1 Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit Bahrain 25 April Japan Kamui Kobayashi Belgium Jérôme d'Ambrosio Brazil Diego Nunes Brazil Piquet GP Report
R2 26 April Belgium Jérôme d'Ambrosio Brazil Luiz Razia United Kingdom Arden Motorsport

Championship standings

Scoring system

Points are awarded to the top 8 classified finishers in the Feature race, and to the top 6 classified finishers in the Sprint race. The pole-sitter in the feature race will also receive two points, and one point is given to the driver who set the fastest lap inside the top ten in both the feature and sprint races. No extra points are awarded to the pole-sitter in the sprint race.

Feature race points
Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th   7th   8th 
Points 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1
Sprint race points

Points are awarded to the top 6 classified finishers.

Position  1st   2nd   3rd   4th   5th   6th 
Points 6 5 4 3 2 1

Drivers' Championship

Pos Driver CHN
China		 DUB
United Arab Emirates		 BHR1
Bahrain		 QAT
Qatar		 MYS
Malaysia		 BHR2
Bahrain		 Points
1 Japan Kamui Kobayashi 2 Ret 1 C 1 6 4 18 2 7 4 5 56
2 Belgium Jérôme d'Ambrosio 9 5 7 C 2 3 5 7 Ret DSQ 3 2 36
3 Spain Roldán Rodríguez 1 6 3 C 6 23 Ret 17 4 12 2 Ret 35
4 Italy Davide Valsecchi 8 1 2 C 5 2 6 5 8 3 16 Ret 34
5 Russia Vitaly Petrov 5 Ret 5 C 10 12 3 2 6 1 19 11 28
6 Germany Nico Hülkenberg 4 4 1 3 27
7 Mexico Sergio Pérez Ret 7 6 C 8 1 2 1 Ret 6 12 9 26
8 Brazil Diego Nunes 12 Ret Ret C 13 22 11 12 1 4 1 6 24
9 Japan Sakon Yamamoto 3 14 8 C 17 11 Ret 14 12 Ret 6 4 13
10 Spain Javier Villa 4 3 9 C 9 5 13 10 19 18 15 12 12
11 Italy Edoardo Mortara 3 8 7 4 Ret 17 Ret 16 11
12 Netherlands Giedo van der Garde 10 DNS 4 C 7 14 12 8 14 10 5 7 11
13 Brazil Luiz Razia Ret 17 10 C 14 9 8 6 Ret Ret 8 1 9
14 New Zealand Earl Bamber 6 2 Ret C 11 7 8
15 Venezuela Pastor Maldonado Ret C 7 2 Ret Ret 7
16 United Kingdom James Jakes Ret 11 12 C 22 Ret 9 9 3 Ret 10 14 7
17 Italy Davide Rigon 14 15 Ret 13 7 3 6
18 New Zealand Chris van der Drift 7 4 Ret C 5
19 Netherlands Yelmer Buurman Ret C Ret 13 Ret DNS 5 11 4
20 Bahrain Hamad Al Fardan 15 Ret Ret C 12 Ret Ret Ret 9 5 Ret 17 2
21 Portugal Álvaro Parente 17 16 11 9 Ret 13 1
22 Italy Marco Bonanomi 20 10 16 11 Ret 14 14 8 0
23 Venezuela Rodolfo González 16 Ret Ret 19 10 8 Ret Ret 0
24 Japan Hiroki Yoshimoto Ret 8 0
25 Malaysia Alex Yoong 14 9 Ret C 0
26 India Karun Chandhok 9 Ret 0
27 Italy Giacomo Ricci 13 Ret 13 C Ret 16 Ret 13 16 15 11 10 0
28 Italy Fabrizio Crestani 14 C Ret 17 10 21 15 16 18 15 0
29 Finland Mika Mäki Ret 10 0
30 Brazil Carlos Iaconelli 11 Ret 0
31 Netherlands Renger van der Zande 11 C 0
32 Japan Yuhi Sekiguchi Ret 12 0
33 Romania Michael Herck 16 16 15 C 18 18 15 Ret 13 Ret 13 Ret 0
34 France Nelson Philippe 17 13 0
35 Italy Frankie Provenzano 15 15 19 20 0
36 Taiwan Kevin Nai Chia Chen Ret 15 18 C 21 21 18 23 20 Ret Ret 18 0
37 Brazil Alberto Valerio 16 C 0
38 Portugal Ricardo Teixeira 17 19 17 Ret 0
39 Italy Michael Dalle Stelle 17 C 19 20 20 22 18 20 Ret 19 0
40 Spain Adrián Vallés Ret 19 0
United Arab Emirates Andreas Zuber Ret Ret Ret C 0
Italy Luca Filippi Ret Ret 0
Pos Driver CHN
China		 DUB
United Arab Emirates		 BHR1
Bahrain		 QAT
Qatar		 MYS
Malaysia		 BHR2
Bahrain		 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)

Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest Lap

Notes:

Teams' Championship

Pos Team Car
No.		 CHN
China		 DUB
United Arab Emirates		 BHR1
Bahrain		 QAT
Qatar		 MYS
Malaysia		 BHR2
Bahrain		 Points
1 France DAMS 7 9 5 7 C 2 3 5 7 Ret DSQ 3 2 92
8 2 Ret 1 C 1 6 4 18 2 7 4 5
2 Italy Brazil Piquet GP 20 1 6 3 C 6 23 Ret 17 4 12 2 Ret 59
21 12 Ret Ret C 13 22 11 12 1 4 1 6
3 Spain Barwa International Campos 5 5 Ret 5 C 10 12 3 2 6 1 19 11 54
6 Ret 7 6 C 8 1 2 1 Ret 6 12 9
4 France ART Grand Prix 1 3 14 8 C 17 11 Ret 14 12 Ret 6 4 47
2 17 13 Ret C 4 4 1 3 7 2 Ret Ret
5 Italy Durango 16 8 1 2 C 5 2 6 5 8 3 16 Ret 34
17 11 Ret 17 C 19 20 20 22 18 20 Ret 19
6 United Kingdom Arden Motorsport 3 Ret 17 10 C 14 9 8 6 Ret Ret 8 1 20
4 Ret 10 11 C 3 8 7 4 Ret 17 Ret 16
7 United Kingdom Super Nova Racing 11 4 3 9 C 9 5 13 10 19 18 15 12 19
12 Ret 11 12 C 22 Ret 9 9 3 Ret 10 14
8 United Kingdom GFH Team iSport 9 10 DNS 4 C 7 14 12 8 14 10 5 7 13
10 15 Ret Ret C 12 Ret Ret Ret 9 5 Ret 17
9 Italy Trident Racing 26 13 Ret 16 C 15 15 19 20 17 13 17 3 11
27 7 4 Ret C Ret 19 14 15 Ret 19 7 Ret
10 Malaysia My Qi-Meritus Mahara 18 14 9 Ret C 20 10 16 11 Ret 14 14 8 9
19 6 2 Ret C 11 7 17 16 11 9 Ret 13
11 Spain BCN Competición
Portugal Ocean Racing Technology		 24 Ret 8 Ret C Ret 13 Ret DNS 5 11 9 Ret 4
25 Ret Ret 14 C Ret 17 10 21 15 16 18 15
12 Italy FMS International 14 Ret Ret Ret C 16 Ret Ret 19 10 8 Ret Ret 0
15 Ret 15 18 C 21 21 18 23 20 Ret Ret 18
13 United Kingdom David Price Racing 22 16 16 15 C 18 18 15 Ret 13 Ret 13 Ret 0
23 Ret 12 13 C Ret 16 Ret 13 16 15 11 10
Pos Team Car
No.		 CHN
China		 DUB
United Arab Emirates		 BHR1
Bahrain		 QAT
Qatar		 MYS
Malaysia		 BHR2
Bahrain		 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)

Bold – Pole
Italics – Fastest Lap

Notes:

References

  1. ↑ Sakon Yamamoto: official GP2 Asia driver of ART art-grandprix.com
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Freeman, Glenn (ed.) (October 2008). "Japan leads GP2 Asia charge". Autosport 194 (3): pp.22–23.
  3. ↑ "Maldonado to race for ART in 2009". autosport.com. 2008-11-10. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
  4. ↑ "Hulkenberg takes pole on GP2 debut". Autosport.com. 2009-01-22. Archived from the original on 24 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Razia joins Arden, Villa to Super Nova". GPUpdate.net. 2008-10-02. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  6. ↑ GP2: Trust Team Arden Confirm Mika Maki and Luiz Razia for GP2 Asia 2008/09
  7. ↑ "Van der Zande to replace Maki in Dubai". GPUpdate.net. 2008-10-27. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  8. ↑ "Mortara signs for Arden". autosport.com. 2009-01-21. Archived from the original on 31 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  9. ↑ Campos Racing
  10. ↑ "Van der Garde joins iSport for Asia Series". GPUpdate.net. 2008-10-02. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  11. ↑ "Al Fardan joins GFH iSport". GPUpdate.net. 2008-09-23. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  12. ↑ "Gonzalez joins Fisichella for GP2 Asia". autosport.com. 2009-01-21. Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  13. ↑ "Durango and Valsecchi extend contract". GPUpdate.net. 2008-09-23. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
  14. ↑ GP2: Iaconelli to team with valsecchi at shanghai durango.it
  15. ↑ "Durango signs teen for Asia campaign". crash.net. 2008-12-01. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-02.
  16. ↑ My Team Qi-Meritus.Mahara signs Alex Yoong
  17. ↑ "Bonanomi replaces Yoong at Meritus". autosport.com. 2009-01-17. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  18. ↑ GP2: Meritus confirms Kiwi to second seat crash.net
  19. ↑ "Parente joins Meritus for Qatar". autosport.com. 2009-02-11. Archived from the original on 14 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  20. ↑ GP2: Piquet GP & Rodríguez together for GP2 Asia and GP2 Main Piquet GP official site – 23.09.2008.
  21. ↑ GP2: Diego Nunes second car in GP2 Asia Series Piquet GP official site – 07.10.2008.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Sekiguchi joins DPR for Asia campaign". crash.net. 2008-10-15. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Driver changes aplenty in Dubai". crash.net. 2008-12-04. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-04.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Ocean sign Crestani as second driver". autosport.com. 2008-12-02. Archived from the original on 5 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-02.
  25. ↑ "08/09 GP2 Asia Series – Round 6". GP2 Asia Series. 2009-04-23. Archived from the original on 2 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  26. ↑ GP2: Filippi back with BCN crash.net
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Trident names new pairing.". crash.net. 2009-01-21. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  28. ↑ "08/09 GP2 Asia Series – Round 5". GP2 Asia Series. 2009-04-02. Archived from the original on 2 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
  29. ↑ "Rigon replaces Valles at Trident". autosport.com. 2009-02-10. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
  30. ↑ "Tiago Monteiro confirms the acquisition of GP2 team". tiagomonteiro.com. 2008-11-27. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  31. ↑ "GP2 Asia 2008–09 Calendar". UpdateF1.com. 2008-07-12. Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-12.
  32. ↑ "Floods force cancellation of Dubai race". autosport.com. 2008-12-06. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
  33. ↑ "Qatar night race for Asia Series". autosport.com. 2008-12-17. Archived from the original on 19 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-17.

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