Abu Dhabi to host GP2 finale

The championship's calendar and teams' entry list for next season were announced today, with the opening round once again taking place in support of the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona.

F1 support races in Monaco and Turkey follow before a standalone GP2 race at the Portimao circuit in Portugal in June. GP2 will then rejoin the F1 schedule for its remaining seven rounds, concluding in Abu Dhabi.

The grid will drop to 24 cars next year, following the Durango team's recent announcement that it will not contest the 2010 season.

The two pre-season tests will take place at Paul Ricard on March 23-25 and Barcelona on April 7-9.

"I am very pleased to have 11 rounds next year," said GP2 boss Bruno Michel. "We will have 10 events alongside Formula 1; that's one more than in 2009, and ending the season in Abu Dhabi is fantastic.

"I can also reveal today that the 2010 grid is almost complete. The list of drivers for next season is made of a lot of new names and it will be very interesting to follow these promising young guns.

"Looking at the Formula 1 grid for next year, one can only be impressed by the number of GP2 graduates who will be competing in the 2010 championship."

2010 GP2 calendar
May 8-9              Barcelona
May 14-15            Monte Carlo
May 29-30            Istanbul
June 19-20           Portimao
June 26-27           Valencia
July 10-11           Silverstone
July 24-25           Hockenheim
July 31-August 1     Hungaroring
August 28-29         Spa
September 11-12      Monza
November 13-14       Abu Dhabi