GP2 Asia Series 2011 Calendar revealed

GP2 Series organizers are pleased to reveal the calendar of the fourth GP2 Asia Series, a category that previously crowned Romain Grosjean, Kamui Kobayashi and Davide Valsecchi. This season, the Asia Series will consist of three rounds, all based in the Middle East – Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, including one as a support race of the 2011 opening Formula One Grand Prix at Sakhir in March. Prior to the GP2 Asia 2011 season kick-off, all twenty six drivers will get their first taste of the new GP2/11 car on Pirelli tires during pre-season tests in Abu Dhabi.

Teams will receive their first car on October 18th and 19th and a shakedown will take place on November 18th at Circuit Paul Ricard. All cars will then be shipped from Europe to Abu Dhabi mid-December and will arrive one month later in the Middle East.

GP2 Asia Series CEO Bruno Michel said: “It is true that this season’s calendar is particularly short due to the fact that we have a new car to deliver to our teams. It will be the first time that we use the same car for both GP2 Asia and GP2 Series, and it will definitely be an exciting new season: not only will we have a new car, new tires, new drivers, but also two new teams with Carlin and Team Air Asia joining us. Since the beginning of the GP2 Asia Series, we have seen great races and I am confident that this coming season will provide us with the same quality show. It will be exciting for everyone to see how quickly teams and drivers will adapt to the new car and tires!"

Schedule

Feb 11-12 Abu Dhabi – Yas Marina Circuit
Feb 18-19 Bahrain – Sakhir
Mar 12-13 Bahrain – Sakhir

Tests
Feb 1-2 Abu Dhabi – Yas Marina Circuit
Feb 6-7 Abu Dhabi – Yas Marina Circuit

Teams

iSport International 1-2 Arden International 3-4 ART Grand Prix 5-6 Super Nova Racing 7-8 Dams 9-10 Scuderia Coloni 11-12 Ocean Racing Technology 14-15 Barwa Addax Team 16-17 Trident Racing 18-19 Rapax 20-21 Racing Engineering 22-23 Carlin 24-25 Team Air Asia 26-27