GP2 bosses considering winter series
Organisers of the GP2 series are currently considering a winter series to be run at the conclusion of this year's championship
The 2006 season was due to finish at the Belgian Grand Prix weekend in Spa on September 17, but as a result of Formula One cancelling the round the series is now likely to conclude in Monza on September 10, leaving approximately six months before the start of the 2007 season.
Given the length of this break, and despite looking for an alternate venue for the season closer in the interim, series organisers are working on establishing a winter series which would allow the teams to test potential drivers for the new year, and are currently working on a way to make the mini-series financially viable.
It is likely that the winter series will run in the middle east, with three races per weekend at tracks in Bahrain, Dubai and Qatar. Bahrain hosted the GP2 season finale in 2005, but has been dropped from the calendar for this year.
It is believed that all thirteen teams have been advised of the potential series, and while a number of them are also involved in the A1 GP series, which is likely to run over the same period, the response has generally been favourable.
When asked for his opinion on the possible extra series, Racing Engineering team principal Alfonso de Orleans told autosport.com: "I think it's a great idea, as long as we can pull the finances together.
"If we can do that it will allow the teams to survive the winter, and hopefully will also offer the fans there some close racing, and the drivers an exciting new series."
The financial structure of the deal is seen as the sticking point on announcing the deal, although sources close to the series have advised that a number of 'big name' sponsors are being courted as naming rights sponsors of the series in return for paying the team costs to attend on the three weekends.
When approached on the subject, a spokesman for GP2 refused to comment on the possibility of a winter series, but when pushed would not deny that it was a "strong possibility" for the end of this year.
F2 driver Caldwell gets one-round ban for Spa
Formula 2 driver Olli Caldwell will miss the next round of the championship after being handed a race ban for reaching 12 penalty points as a result of a track limits breach in Hungary.
F2 Hungary: Pourchaire reignites title battle with feature race victory
Theo Pourchaire clinched FIA Formula 2 feature race victory in Hungary to reignite the title battle with Felipe Drugovich.
F2 Hungary: Doohan cruises to sprint race win
Jack Doohan cruised to FIA Formula 2 victory at the Hungaroring, holding off Juri Vips to cross the line five seconds clear.
F2 Hungary: Iwasa takes maiden series pole
Ayumu Iwasa took his maiden FIA Formula 2 pole at the Hungaroring, continuing his strong form after feature race victory in France last week.
The problem sausage kerbs continue to cause
Track limits are the problem that motorsport doesn't seem to be able to rid itself of. But the use of so-called 'sausage kerbs' as a deterrent has in several instances only served to worsen the problem, and a growing number of voices want to see action taken
The on-form F1 protege carrying America's hopes on his shoulders
Two feature race wins in as many rounds have helped Logan Sargeant to emerge as the closest challenger to runaway Formula 2 points leader Felipe Drugovich. The Williams F1 junior couldn't have timed his rise better, with interest in grand prix racing on the rise in his US homeland, and he could be his country's best shot at getting a driver on the grid for the first time since 2015
What racing in Australia means for the future of F1's junior series
The announcement that FIA Formula 2 and 3 would race alongside the Australian Grand Prix from 2023 came as a surprise, not only to fans but to the series’ teams too. But with Formula 1’s boom in popularity bringing more fans to the championships, team principals are relishing the opportunity
The other Doohan charting his way to motorsport success
Heading into FIA Formula 2 this season, there was a lot of pressure on Jack Doohan. The 2021 F3 runner-up joined a new team for his next challenge, as well as signing up to the Alpine Academy. He told Autosport how he’s tackling the step up - with some help from his motorcycle legend father
The Brazilian F2 driver hoping to return his country to motorsport's top tier
With a chaotic but “pretty much perfect” FIA Formula 2 weekend in Saudi Arabia behind him, Felipe Drugovich now leads the drivers’ standings in his third crack at the series. The Brazilian driver explains how he's improved amid some difficult years, and shares his dreams of ending his nation's absence from the F1 grid
The Red Bull junior aiming to emulate Piastri in F2
Norwegian talent Dennis Hauger has a tough act to follow in Oscar Piastri’s footsteps on his graduation to F2 as the reigning F3 champion with Prema. Here’s what he makes of the task ahead of him
The other Mercedes F1 young gun facing a big 2022
With a disappointing 2021 season behind him, Frederik Vesti makes the move up to FIA Formula 2 with a reinvigorated sense of determination. Could this finally be the breakthrough year for the talented Mercedes junior?
Ranking the 10 best drivers of an F1 junior series stalwart
DAMS has been one of the most prolific teams below Formula 1 since its foundation in 1989, launching 32 drivers into grand prix racing. Following the team's sale to ex-F1 racer Charles Pic, formally closing the book on the ownership of the Driot family, Autosport picks out its 10 best drivers during their spell with the team