GP2 Asia Series launched in Monaco

(GMM) F1's junior category, GP2, will expand into Asia next year, it was announced in Monaco on Thursday.

The new championship, to be called the GP2 Asia Series, will run between January and April and will be twinned with the recently announced Speedcar touring car series for a weekend to be known as Grand Racing, statements said.

From next year, GP2 Asia will support some grands prix in Asia, "with this number expected to increase year on year as the formula one calendar expands into Asia and the Middle East", organizers explained.

"The popularity of motorsport in Asia and the Middle East is growing all the time, and the Grand Racing event is well poised to capitalize on this," said F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

"It will also give gifted drivers from the region greater opportunity to aim for formula one seats in the future."

It was reported last month that Ecclestone wanted to "kill off" or "torpedo" the open wheel series A1GP, which runs in the European winter, because it would clash with his plans for Asian GP2.