Carlin and Air Asia to join GP2 grid
Two new teams will join the GP2 grid next year, with Carlin and new Lotus F1-affiliated squad Team Air Asia being named among the 13-team line-up for the three-year cycle beginning in 2011
The addition of the two teams returns the series to a full grid of 26 cars, with one new entry taking the place left vacant by Durango following the Italian team's withdrawal in late 2009, and the other replacing DPR, which will leave GP2 at the end of the current season.
Multiple title-winning outfit Carlin's entry comes off the back of its participation in this year's inaugural GP3 Series, while Malaysia-based Team Air Asia is a new organisation owned by Lotus F1 team principal Tony Fernandes.
For the first time, all 13 teams will participate in both the main series and the Asia Series.
GP2 boss Bruno Michel said that the inclusion of the new teams would be a great boost for the series.
"We have known Carlin for a long time," he said. "We signed them in GP3 Series and we have been very pleased not with only their results, but also with the way they integrated into our working environment. To have them enter GP2 is the logical next step.
"As for Team Air Asia, the seriousness of their presentation, their ambition and their worldwide project were really appealing. We are very happy to welcome an Asian team to our paddock."
Michel also acknowledged the 11 existing teams that will return next year.
"We have developed very strong links and a healthy relationship with our teams over the course of the past three years, but when it was time to make decisions, we based them on sporting results," he said.
"Our wish was to open our grid to new teams and also return to the original number of thirteen entries. Therefore, we looked at the results of all completed seasons of the last three-year cycle and based on that kept eleven teams in order to welcome two new outfits."
2011-2013 GP2 entry list
Arden International
ART Grand Prix
Barwa Addax Team
Carlin
Dams
iSport International
Ocean Racing Technology
Racing Engineering
Rapax
Scuderia Coloni
Super Nova Racing
Team Air Asia
Trident Racing
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