Rapax says inexperienced driver line-up caused fall down the grid in 2011

The Italian team won the championship in 2010 with Pastor Maldonado, who then graduated to Formula 1 with Williams. But Rapax struggled without the veteran driver, as Fabio Leimer was its top driver down in 14th in the standings.

Team manager Andrea Bergamini believes that the new 2011 Dallara chassis and switch to Pirelli tyres made it a bad time to sign an inexperienced line-up, as Leimer went into his second year in GP2 alongside rookie Julian Leal.

"The tests carried out at the end of 2010 had seen Fabio and our car dominate," said Bergamini. "But the new Dallara with its aerodynamics based on Formula 1, and the new Pirelli tyres, changed the situation.

"After a successful season like 2010, the decision to sign two young drivers may have seemed a bit of a gamble. The drivers with more experience soon learned how to use the tyres.

"And above all they were able to accelerate the development of the car, leaving little space for those who - due to lack of experience - struggled to understand the problems."

Team owner Gianfranco Sovernigo believes that the current GP2 package makes it hard for even a second-year driver to shine in the category.

"The new car was so complicated and so many strategic factors were introduced with the new Pirelli tyres that it was quite unlikely a debuting driver, or even one with a little more experience, could immediately be competitive," said Sovernigo.

"The times when [Nico] Rosberg and [Lewis] Hamilton immediately became winners in GP2 are now over. To be a champion today requires at least three to four years experience in the class.

"Pastor Maldonado became champion in his fourth year in GP2. In order to become a doctor you need to finish the entire degree course, not just enrol in the university."