GP2
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The GP2 Series is designed to make racing affordable for the teams and
to make it the perfect training ground for life in Formula One. GP2 has
made it mandatory for all of the teams to use the same chassis, engine
and tyre supplier so that true driver ability is reflected. Most races
take place as the official support races at Formula One race weekends
to boost the series' profile, to give drivers experience on the Grand
Prix environment, and to take advantage of the infrastructure
(marshalls, medical facilities etc) in place for a Formula One event.
The GP2 Car has been designed by Dallara Automobili, with a 4 litre
Renault V8 engine which features internal, cartographic and software
upgrades designed to improve performance and fuel consumption. The
engine produces about 580 hp (432.5 kW). Bridgestone is the single tyre
supplier for the GP2 Racing Series. Although grooved dry tyres were
used when the series started in 2005, regulations changed in 2006 in
favour of slick tyres.
Bridgestone is supplying three slick tyre compounds for racing on dry
(soft, medium and hard), as well as a wet specification. The choice of
tyre being raced is made jointly by the manufacturer and the GP2 Series
organizers prior to each event. According to research and pre-season
stability tests, the 2005 model can go 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 6.7
seconds. The car has a top speed of 320 km/h (198 mph) meaning that it
is the fastest single seater racing car bar Formula One and Indy cars.
The cars are predicted to be reliable and should run within less than
ten seconds per lap of the typical Formula One car.
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