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Auto GP adds overboost overtaking system

Auto GP will introduce an 'overboost' system for the 2012 season

Each driver will be able to trigger a brief 50 horsepower boost on 10 occasions during each race using a button on the steering wheel.

Series chief Enzo Coloni explained that the innovation was designed to give drivers more experience of using overtaking-assistance devices like Formula 1's Drag Reduction System (DRS) and Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS).

"As highlighted by the test our champion [Kevin] Ceccon undertook with Scuderia Toro Rosso, F1 teams are keeping an eye on Auto GP when looking for new talents," said Coloni. "The good job he did, especially from a technical point of view, proved that the championship gave him a very good preparation, but our aim is to keep improving every aspect of our series.

"That's why for 2012 we are planning some changes that will make Auto GP an even better school for F1. After adding the mandatory pitstop in race two, the introduction of the overboost is another important step in that direction: the driver will learn to use a tool that will be very similar to what they will then experience in F1 with KERS.

"Having just a limited amount of activations available, they will have to choose carefully when to use it, so they will learn how to cope with a very important strategic option."

Coloni added that Auto GP had considering adding a system more directly comparable to F1's DRS but decided against it as it felt it could not do so safely without the resources available in grand prix racing.

"In F1 that system works because you have proper activation zones controlled by the FIA, but that's something impossible to do out of Formula 1," he said.

"We would have been forced to leave the drivers free to use the movable wing wherever they wanted, and we think that's too dangerous. So the overboost really is the best solution for us."

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