The GP2 Series has revealed its 2013 calendar, consisting of 11 race weekends and ending in Abu Dhabi.
With the loss of the European Grand Prix at Valencia from the Formula 1 schedule and the removal of the stand-alone weekend in Bahrain that was present in this year’s calendar, next season will only be made up of 11 rounds as opposed to 12. But while the 2012 campaign ended in Singapore, the 2013 season finale will conclude six weeks later in support of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit.
The circuit in the United Arab Emirates was previously part of the GP2 Series calendar in 2010 when the races were won by Sergio Perez and Davide Valsecchi, while in 2011 a non-championship event was held in support of the F1 race.
Just as in 2012, the season will begin at the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang in March, followed by a second Asian round in Bahrain before the European leg kicks off at Barcelona. The German round, like the nation’s Grand Prix, switches back from Hockenheim to the Nurburgring. Monza hosts the final European round at the start of September before the long-hauls to Singapore and Abu Dhabi.
“2013 will be another strong season for GP2,” said series CEO Bruno Michel. “We have decided to keep the prestigious tracks outside of Europe, starting with Sepang and Sakhir, two venues which provided some heart-stopping action last season. We are also returning to Singapore in September for the second time of the Series’ history. I am very pleased to be closing the season in Abu Dhabi: we have been to that track several times with GP2 Asia and raced there last time in November 2011 with our latest generation car.
“Added to these four overseas events, we will be racing alongside F1 in all seven European rounds which brings a total of eleven F1 tracks on our calendar again next season. Since the Series started in 2005, we have always provided the drivers with a car close to F1 in performance and used the same tyres. This package guarantees the GP2 drivers to gain the ultimate and most-needed experience to graduate to the next category. Our sole goal has always been and will continue to remain to prepare the next generation of F1 drivers. I believe that’s exactly what we will see again in 2013 and I am really looking forward to next season.”
Two pre-season tests will take place at Jerez and Barcelona in late February and early March respectively.
Tests:
26-28 February – Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
5-7 March – Barcelona, Spain
Races:
22-24 March – Sepang, Malaysia
19-21 April – Sakhir, Bahrain
10-12 May – Barcelona, Spain
23-25 May – Monte-Carlo, Monaco
28-30 June – Silverstone, Great-Britain
05-07 July – Nurburg, Germany
26-28 July – Budapest, Hungary
23-25 August – Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
06-08 September – Monza, Italy
20-22 September – Singapore, Singapore
01-03 November – Abu Dhabi, UAE
