GP2 Asia season to begin in Abu Dhabi

This week's AUTOSPORT magazine reports that the GP2 cars will also be the first to sample the new circuit, in a two-day test held on the Friday and Saturday the week before the event.

The remaining rounds of the GP2 Asia series are yet to be announced, but AUTOSPORT understands that all the races are expecting to take place in the Middle East to reduce the travel budget required to race in countries such as China and Malaysia.

Last year's GP2 runner-up Bruno Senna was impressed by the Yas Marina facility when he visited the venue earlier this week.

"It seems that the state of the art facilities, together with a demanding track layout, will be a new and tough challenge," said Senna.

"I would say the layout is quite selective. It is not exactly the same as Bahrain, where you can find at least four overtaking points, but you can earn position in one place or another.

"The 1.2km straight will ease that, for sure. Some corners are crazy as the cars will pass very close to the wall, like in the IndyCar series. This mix of characteristics is cool."