Quaife-Hobbs backs MP to shine in rookie GP2 year

Auto GP champion Adrian Quaife-Hobbs does not expect MP Motorsport's status as a rookie GP2 team to hold it back this year.

Experienced Formula Renault and Auto GP team MP picked up Coloni's entry after the Italian team departed from GP2 last year.

Quaife-Hobbs, who signed for the team this week believes that Coloni's late 2012 form, and the fact that some of its staff have been retained by MP, means that the Dutch outfit can start well in GP2.

"Although it is a new team, the knowledge and experience go back quite a long way," Quaife-Hobbs told AUTOSPORT.

"Coloni was fast in testing at the end of the season, and [Luca] Filippi was competitive in races.

"That is the base set-up that we have to work from. There are certainly a few Coloni mechanics continuing.

"Regarding the engineers, they have brought in a few extra people to help but have retained the knowledge-base from Coloni."

The Briton was a frontrunner in GP2 testing with experienced teams Addax and Arden at the end of last year, and he expects that form to continue when pre-season testing kicks off next week.

"We had a very good finish to 2012, with two strong performances in GP2 testing, so I cannot see why we can't build on those results as we head into the first of two pre-season tests in Spain," he said.

"Looking ahead to the season, naturally I have to aim to win, as all drivers do, although I appreciate it's going to be a tough challenge."