2005 GP2 Series

2005 GP2 Series
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The 2005 GP2 Series season started in Imola, Italy on 23 April, and ended in Manama, Bahrain on 30 September. The season was won by the German Nico Rosberg, with the Finn Heikki Kovalainen finishing second.

2005 was the first season of the newly renamed Formula One feeder series, from Formula 3000 to GP2. The inaugural season did not feature reigning F3000 champion Vitantonio Liuzzi, because the Italian was driving for Red Bull Racing in Formula One. The series did feature two former F1 drivers, Italians Gianmaria Bruni and Giorgio Pantano, driving for Coloni and SuperNova respectively.

Season summary

In the opening race at Imola, there were a number of mechanical problems and organizers being afraid of trouble at the start, so the rolling start was used in both races, though weather was dry. Nicolas Lapierre had taken his inaugural pole position but he was out before the race had started due to mechanical problems. The race was won by his team-mate Heikki Kovalainen.

After the first weekend, it was decided that the points for the fastest lap would only be awarded if the driver was classified. This was due to the event in the Imola sprint race, where Lapierre started with a fuel load with which he wouldn't have been able to finish, set a fastest lap and retired soon after.

At Barcelona, the drivers could finally experience rolling starts. F1 refugee Bruni won the feature race and José María López the sprint race. The first four races had been won by four drivers in four teams, highlighting that the field had many competitive drivers. Adam Carroll was the first driver to take a second victory after he won at Monaco, where only one race was held.

At Nürburgring, the sprint race was extended from 80 to 120 kilometres. This coincided with F1 dropping second qualifying session on Sunday morning. The sprint race turned to be one of the most exciting of the season, with Monegasque Clivio Piccione winning.

Heikki Kovalainen was the top driver early in the season, winning three of the first five feature races. However, the season took a turnaround at Magny-Cours, where ART Grand Prix started going strong. Tactical errors caused them to lose the feature race, but Nico Rosberg gave them their first win at the sprint. Rosberg went on to win the next two feature races, while Olivier Pla won both sprints having started from pole position in both of them.

At the qualifying of the Hungaroring race, ART cars were disqualified for illegal position of their steering rack. They were sent to back of the grid but it didn't stop them taking point finishes in feature and 1-2 in the sprint, where Alexandre Prémat won his first race. Neel Jani joined the winners' list in the feature race.

Prémat also won the next race at Istanbul, while championship leading duo Kovalainen and Rosberg finished outside the points. The sprint race started in wet conditions but dried out, so tyre changes were necessary. Kovalainen did that move perfectly and won the race having started 10th. Rosberg jumped from 17th to 3rd.

Kovalainen and Jani won races at Monza but Rosberg took the most points with two second places and two fastest laps. Nelson Angelo Piquet then won the feature race at Spa-Francorchamps while Rosberg took the championship lead from Kovalainen who spun off on the last lap while battling for eighth place and pole for Sunday's race. Carroll led the sprint race from the start but following accidents involving Ernesto Viso, Hiroki Yoshimoto and Jani the race was stopped early and only half points were awarded. Viso still ended in 3rd position thanks to countback rule.

The championship was decided in Bahrain which held the only race not supporting F1. Rosberg led Kovalainen by three points and increased his lead by taking pole position. Rosberg also won the race and clinched the title as Kovalainen was 3rd. Rosberg then also won the sprint race, becoming the first driver in the series to win both races during an event.

Teams and drivers

All of the teams used the Dallara chassis with Renault-badged Mecachrome engines in 2005 in order to keep the field fair.

As this was the inaugural season in the series, car numbers were distributed by a pre-season session held at Circuit Paul Ricard on 6 April. The fastest driver got number 1, his team-mate number 2, next best driver number 3 etc.

Team No. Driver Rounds
United Kingdom iSport International 1 United States Scott Speed All
2 Turkey Can Artam All
United Kingdom Hitech/Piquet Racing 3 Brazil Nelson Angelo Piquet All
4 Brazil Alexandre Sarnes Negrão All
Spain BCN Competicion 5 Venezuela Ernesto Viso All
6 Japan Hiroki Yoshimoto All
United Kingdom Super Nova Racing 7 Italy Giorgio Pantano All
8 United Kingdom Adam Carroll All
France ART Grand Prix 9 Germany Nico Rosberg All
10 France Alexandre Prémat All
United Kingdom David Price Racing 11 France Olivier Pla All
12 United Kingdom Ryan Sharp 1–7
Switzerland Giorgio Mondini 8–12
France DAMS 14 Argentina José María López All
15 Malaysia Fairuz Fauzy All
Italy Coloni Motorsport 16 Austria Mathias Lauda All
17 Italy Gianmaria Bruni 1–9
Finland Toni Vilander 10–11
Italy Ferdinando Monfardini 12
Spain Racing Engineering 18 Switzerland Neel Jani All
19 Spain Borja García All
Spain Campos Racing 20 Argentina Juan Cruz Álvarez All
21 Spain Sergio Hernández All
United Kingdom Arden International 22 Finland Heikki Kovalainen All
23 France Nicolas Lapierre All
Italy Durango 24 Monaco Clivio Piccione All
25 Italy Ferdinando Monfardini 1–10
Italy Gianmaria Bruni 11–12

Driver changes

Entering GP2

Midseason changes

Calendar

There were 23 races in the 2005 GP2 Series championship at 12 different circuits. Eleven race weekends had one race on Saturday and another on Sunday, the exception being the race at Circuit de Monaco where there was only one race on the weekend. The season began on 23 April 2005 and concluded on 25 September 2005.

The calendar was as follows:

Round Location Circuit Date Supporting
1 F Italy Imola, Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari 23 April San Marino Grand Prix
S 24 April
2 F Spain Catalunya, Spain Circuit de Catalunya 7 May Spanish Grand Prix
S 8 May
3 F Monaco Monte Carlo, Monaco Circuit de Monaco 21 May Monaco Grand Prix
4 F Germany Nürburg, Germany Nürburgring 28 May European Grand Prix
S 29 May
5 F France Magny-Cours, France Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours 2 July French Grand Prix
S 3 July
6 F United Kingdom Silverstone, UK Silverstone Circuit 9 July British Grand Prix
S 10 July
7 F Germany Hockenheim, Germany Hockenheimring 23 July German Grand Prix
S 24 July
8 F Hungary Budapest, Hungary Hungaroring 30 July Hungarian Grand Prix
S 31 July
9 F Turkey Istanbul, Turkey Istanbul Racing Circuit 20 August Turkish Grand Prix
S 21 August
10 F Italy Monza, Italy Autodromo Nazionale Monza 3 September Italian Grand Prix
S 4 September
11 F Belgium Spa, Belgium Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps 10 September Belgian Grand Prix
S 11 September
12 F Bahrain Sakhir, Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit 29 September Stand-alone event
S 30 September

Results

Round Circuit Pole Position Fastest Lap Winning Driver Winning Team Report
1 F Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari France Nicolas Lapierre Venezuela Ernesto Viso Finland Heikki Kovalainen United Kingdom Arden International Report
S France Nicolas Lapierre United Kingdom Adam Carroll United Kingdom Super Nova Racing
2 F Spain Circuit de Catalunya United States Scott Speed Germany Nico Rosberg Italy Gianmaria Bruni Italy Coloni Motorsport Report
S United Kingdom Ryan Sharp Argentina José María López France DAMS
3 F Monaco Circuit de Monaco Finland Heikki Kovalainen Finland Heikki Kovalainen United Kingdom Adam Carroll United Kingdom Super Nova Racing Report
4 F Germany Nürburgring Italy Giorgio Pantano United States Scott Speed Finland Heikki Kovalainen United Kingdom Arden International Report
S United States Scott Speed Monaco Clivio Piccione Italy Durango
5 F France Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours France Alexandre Prémat Italy Gianmaria Bruni Finland Heikki Kovalainen United Kingdom Arden International Report
S Italy Gianmaria Bruni Germany Nico Rosberg France ART Grand Prix
6 F United Kingdom Silverstone Circuit Germany Nico Rosberg France Alexandre Prémat Germany Nico Rosberg France ART Grand Prix Report
S United States Scott Speed France Olivier Pla United Kingdom David Price Racing
7 F Germany Hockenheimring Germany Nico Rosberg Germany Nico Rosberg Germany Nico Rosberg France ART Grand Prix Report
S Germany Nico Rosberg France Olivier Pla United Kingdom David Price Racing
8 F Hungary Hungaroring Switzerland Neel Jani Japan Hiroki Yoshimoto Switzerland Neel Jani Spain Racing Engineering Report
S Monaco Clivio Piccione France Alexandre Prémat France ART Grand Prix
9 F Turkey Istanbul Racing Circuit Germany Nico Rosberg United States Scott Speed France Alexandre Prémat France ART Grand Prix Report
S France Olivier Pla Finland Heikki Kovalainen United Kingdom Arden International
10 F Italy Autodromo Nazionale Monza Finland Heikki Kovalainen Germany Nico Rosberg Finland Heikki Kovalainen United Kingdom Arden International Report
S Germany Nico Rosberg Switzerland Neel Jani Spain Racing Engineering
11 F Belgium Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Italy Gianmaria Bruni United Kingdom Adam Carroll Brazil Nelson Piquet, Jr. United Kingdom Hitech/Piquet Racing Report
S United Kingdom Adam Carroll United Kingdom Adam Carroll United Kingdom Super Nova Racing
12 F Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit Germany Nico Rosberg France Alexandre Prémat Germany Nico Rosberg France ART Grand Prix Report
S United States Scott Speed Germany Nico Rosberg France ART Grand Prix

Championship standings

Drivers

Pos Driver IMO
Italy
CAT
Spain
MON
Monaco
NÜR
Germany
MAG
France
SIL
United Kingdom
HOC
Germany
HUN
Hungary
IST
Turkey
MNZ
Italy
SPA
Belgium
BHR
Bahrain
Points
1 Germany Nico Rosberg 8 Ret 9 4 3 3 4 7 1 1 4 1 4 5 2 17 3 2 2 3 5 1 1 120
2 Finland Heikki Kovalainen 1 3 3 Ret 5 1 Ret 1 3 2 3 5 6 2 5 10 1 1 5 15† 9 3 Ret 105
3 United States Scott Speed 3 Ret 2 3 4 16 12 15 18 4 2 4 3 Ret 19 5 4 Ret 15 4 4 Ret 19 67.5
4 France Alexandre Prémat 7 2 10 Ret Ret 4 Ret 9 Ret 3 5 2 9 4 1 1 14 Ret 18 Ret 12 2 3 67
5 United Kingdom Adam Carroll 5 1 7 6 1 Ret 2 4 6 21† 8 Ret 11 9 9 7 2 5 6 8 1 9 8 53
6 Italy Giorgio Pantano 13† Ret 13 14 Ret 2 7 10 7 12 7 6 2 3 3 2 8 6 3 NC 11 5 5 49
7 Switzerland Neel Jani 6 15 4 5 Ret 6 13† 5 4 5 6 Ret 22 1 4 Ret Ret 7 1 16 18 16 13 48
8 Brazil Nelson Angelo Piquet 14† 6 5 2 11† 5 3 Ret DSQ Ret Ret 3 8 15† 10 4 6 3 Ret 1 14 Ret 15 46
9 Argentina José María López 2 11 6 1 Ret 13 14 2 Ret 9 Ret 13 10 Ret Ret 6 7 Ret Ret 10 8 4 4 36
10 Italy Gianmaria Bruni 4 4 1 Ret 2 8 Ret 18 11 7 11 NC 14 10 8 Ret 9 Ret 16 Ret 14 35
11 Venezuela Ernesto Viso 10 DNS Ret Ret DSQ Ret 11 11 8 15 13 DSQ 12 6 Ret 14 12 Ret Ret 2 3 8 2 21
12 France Nicolas Lapierre DNS Ret 11 9 Ret 12 Ret 3 5 10 Ret 9 7 12 6 Ret 13 4 Ret Ret 23† 6 20 21
13 France Olivier Pla 9 5 Ret Ret 9 Ret 8 Ret 9 8 1 8 1 7 Ret 9 17 Ret Ret 11 10 Ret DNS 20
14 Spain Borja García Ret 10 Ret 10 10† Ret EX Ret 12 17 9 7 5 11 Ret 3 5 Ret 10 6 2 19 17 17.5
15 Monaco Clivio Piccione 15 Ret Ret 8 Ret 7 1 8 DSQ 6 Ret Ret 17 Ret 16 Ret 11 11 14 12 19 13 7 14
16 Japan Hiroki Yoshimoto Ret 9 Ret 17 DNS 11 Ret 6 2 13 Ret 12 Ret 13 17 8 10 10 16 Ret 17 7 6 14
17 Italy Ferdinando Monfardini Ret DNS Ret 11 DNS Ret 6 12 17† 14 10 Ret 15 Ret 11 Ret Ret 8 4 Ret 11 5
18 Argentina Juan Cruz Álvarez Ret 7 Ret 12 Ret 18† 15 Ret NC 11 Ret 10 NC Ret 7 15 Ret 12 17† 5 6 10 12 4.5
19 Brazil Alexandre Negrão Ret 13 8 15 12† Ret Ret Ret 13 19 16† Ret 18 8 15 12 19 Ret 13 7 7 12 9 4
20 Spain Sergio Hernández 11 8 Ret 18† 8 15 5 13 14 16 12 Ret 19 Ret 18† Ret 20† Ret 7 Ret 20† 15 18 3
21 Austria Mathias Lauda 12 Ret Ret 13 6 10 Ret 16 15 20 15 14 21 Ret 14 16 18 13 12 9 24† 14 21 3
22 Turkey Can Artam 16† Ret Ret Ret 7 17 Ret 17 16 18 14 Ret 20 14 12 11 16 9 9 Ret 22† 17 16 2
23 United Kingdom Ryan Sharp Ret 14 Ret 16 Ret 9 9 19 Ret Ret NC 11 13 2
24 Malaysia Fairuz Fauzy 17† 12 12 7 Ret 14 10 14 10 Ret Ret Ret 16 Ret 13 Ret 15 14 11 13 15 11 10 0
25 Finland Toni Vilander 15 8 14 13 0
26 Switzerland Giorgio Mondini Ret Ret 13 Ret Ret Ret Ret 21† 18 22 0
Pos Driver IMO
Italy
CAT
Spain
MON
Monaco
NÜR
Germany
MAG
France
SIL
United Kingdom
HOC
Germany
HUN
Hungary
IST
Turkey
MNZ
Italy
SPA
Belgium
BHR
Bahrain
Points
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green Points finish
Blue Non-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple Retired (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 (DNP)
Excluded (EX)

Note: Sprint race at Spa was stopped early and half points were awarded.

Teams

Pos Team Car
No.
IMO
Italy
CAT
Spain
MON
Monaco
NÜR
Germany
MAG
France
SIL
United Kingdom
HOC
Germany
HUN
Hungary
IST
Turkey
MNZ
Italy
SPA
Belgium
BHR
Bahrain
Points
1 France ART Grand Prix 9 8 Ret 9 4 3 3 4 7 1 1 4 1 4 5 2 17 3 2 2 3 5 1 1 187
10 7 2 10 Ret Ret 4 Ret 9 Ret 3 5 2 9 4 1 1 14 Ret 18 Ret 12 2 3
2 United Kingdom Arden International 22 1 3 3 Ret 5 1 Ret 1 3 2 3 5 6 2 5 10 1 1 5 15† 9 3 Ret 126
23 DNS Ret 11 9 Ret 12 Ret 3 5 10 Ret 9 7 12 6 Ret 13 4 Ret Ret 23† 6 20
3 United Kingdom Super Nova Racing 7 13† Ret 13 14 Ret 2 7 10 7 12 7 6 2 3 3 2 8 6 3 NC 11 5 5 102
8 5 1 7 6 1 Ret 2 4 6 21† 8 Ret 11 9 9 7 2 5 6 8 1 9 8
4 United Kingdom iSport International 1 3 Ret 2 3 4 16 12 15 18 4 2 4 3 Ret 19 5 4 Ret 15 4 4 Ret 19 69.5
2 16† Ret Ret Ret 7 17 Ret 17 16 18 14 Ret 20 14 12 11 16 9 9 Ret 22† 17 16
5 Spain Racing Engineering 18 6 15 4 5 Ret 6 13† 5 4 5 6 Ret 22 1 4 Ret Ret 7 1 16 18 16 13 65.5
19 Ret 10 Ret 10 10† Ret EX Ret 12 17 9 7 5 11 Ret 3 5 Ret 10 6 2 19 17
6 United Kingdom Hitech/Piquet Racing 3 14† 6 5 2 11† 5 3 Ret DSQ Ret Ret 3 8 15† 10 4 6 3 Ret 1 14 Ret 15 50
4 Ret 13 8 15 12† Ret Ret Ret 13 19 16† Ret 18 8 15 12 19 Ret 13 7 7 12 9
7 France DAMS 14 2 11 6 1 Ret 13 14 2 Ret 9 Ret 13 10 Ret Ret 6 7 Ret Ret 10 8 4 4 36
15 17† 12 12 7 Ret 14 10 14 10 Ret Ret Ret 16 Ret 13 Ret 15 14 11 13 15 11 10
8 Italy Coloni Motorsport 16 12 Ret Ret 13 6 10 Ret 16 15 20 15 14 21 Ret 14 16 18 13 12 9 24† 14 21 36
17 4 4 1 Ret 2 8 Ret 18 11 7 11 NC 14 10 8 Ret 9 15 8 14 13 Ret 11
9 Spain BCN Competición 5 10 DNS Ret Ret DSQ Ret 11 11 8 15 13 DSQ 12 6 Ret 14 12 Ret Ret 2 3 8 2 35
6 Ret 9 Ret 17 DNS 11 Ret 6 2 13 Ret 12 Ret 13 17 8 10 10 16 Ret 17 7 6
10 United Kingdom David Price Racing 11 9 5 Ret Ret 9 Ret 8 Ret 9 8 1 8 1 7 Ret 9 17 Ret Ret 11 10 Ret DNS 22
12 Ret 14 Ret 16 Ret 9 9 19 Ret Ret NC 11 13 Ret Ret 13 Ret Ret Ret Ret 21† 18 22
11 Italy Durango 24 15 Ret Ret 8 Ret 7 1 8 DSQ 6 Ret Ret 17 Ret 16 Ret 11 11 14 12 19 13 7 21
25 Ret DNS Ret 11 DNS Ret 6 12 17† 14 10 Ret 15 Ret 11 Ret Ret 8 4 Ret 16 Ret 14
12 Spain Campos Racing 20 Ret 7 Ret 12 Ret 18† 15 Ret NC 11 Ret 10 NC Ret 7 15 Ret 12 17† 5 6 10 12 7.5
21 11 8 Ret 18† 8 15 5 13 14 16 12 Ret 19 Ret 18† Ret 20† Ret 7 Ret 20† 15 18
Pos Team Car
No.
IMO
Italy
CAT
Spain
MON
Monaco
NÜR
Germany
MAG
France
SIL
United Kingdom
HOC
Germany
HUN
Hungary
IST
Turkey
MNZ
Italy
SPA
Belgium
BHR
Bahrain
Points

References

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