2014 GP2 Series Season Preview – Part 2 – The Schedule and Drivers

With the tenth season of the GP2 Series rapidly approaching, let us look at the venues the cars will race at this year, the rule changes made over the winter, how the series allocates its points in each feature and sprint race, and finally who is driving for who in 2014.

2014 GP2 Series Race Schedule

The calendar has changed from 2013, with the Malaysian and Singapore rounds dropped in favour of rounds at the Red Bull Ring in Austria and at Sochi in Russia.  The season begins in April 05^th at the Sakhir circuit in the desert location of Bahrain and ends once again at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

There are 11 rounds in total in 2014.  There will be a solitary qualifying session for each event for the feature race, with the sprint race following the next day, with the grid decided by the result of the feature race but with the top eight in reverse order.

 2014 GP2 Series Rule Changes

The only major rule change is with the tyre compound usage.  In following Formula 1’s lead, each driver will now have to use both compounds of Pirelli tyre brought to each event during the feature race.  Prior to 2014, they only had to use both tyre compounds at some point during the weekend.

The other rule change has seen an increase of 15 minutes the time of the free practice session of each weekend from 30 minutes to 45 minutes.

2014 GP2 Series Points Allocations

Pole Position: 4 points

Feature Race Points: 1^st – 25 Points; 2^nd – 18 Points; 3^rd – 15 Points; 4^th – 12 Points; 5^th – 10 Points; 6^th – 8 Points; 7^th – 6 Points; 8^th – 4 Points; 9^th – 2 Points; 10^th – 1 Point

Feature Race Fastest Lap: 2 Points*

Sprint Race Points: 1^st – 15 Points; 2^nd – 12 Points; 3^rd – 10 Points; 4^th – 8 Points; 5^th – 6 Points; 6^th – 4 Points; 7^th – 2 Points; 8^th – 1 Point

Sprint Race Fastest Lap: 2 Points*

*Any driver who is not classified in the top ten positions at the end of the race or, didn’t start the race from their normal grid position or, changed tyres during race two at a time when climatic conditions did not necessitate the use of a different specification of tyre, will not be eligible for points awarded for fastest lap*

2014 GP2 Series Entry List

The only team change sees Spanish team Campos Racing re-joining the series having originally sold their entry to Alejandro Agag at the end of the 2008 season, and he promptly renamed the team Addax.  Campos ironically return after taking back over the Addax entry from Agag who is concentrating instead on organising the inaugural FIA Formula E Championship that begins this year.

The top three drivers from 2013 have all departed the series; Fabio Leimer, Sam Bird and James Calado have all joined teams in sportscar racing.  Marcus Ericsson is another driver to depart GP2, having signed to race for the Caterham F1 team.

There are eight rookies in the field this year so far, plus six drivers who have previously won races in GP2 in the form of Stefano Coletti, Jolyon Palmer, Adrian Quaife-Hobbs, Alexander Rossi, Johnny Cecotto Jr and Nathanael Berthon.  Three seats – at MP Motorsport, Trident Racing and Venezuela GP Lazarus, remain unconfirmed.