GP2 to feature qualifying

The entrants of the new category were sent a list of proposals on the format of race weekends. One proposal suggested that grid positions for the first of two races each weekend to be determined by the result of the second race at the previous meeting. But this has been rejected in favour of two 30-minute sessions, one untimed and one a traditional qualifying session, scheduled for the Friday of grand prix meetings.

"Right from the beginning we presented two formats and canvassed the teams' views," said a GP2 spokesman. "They have said what they wanted and we will be happy to go along with it."

Arden International team boss Christian Horner, whose outfit has dominated the F3000 category GP2 is replacing in recent years, supports the decision to keep qualifying. "Common sense has prevailed," he said. "I am delighted that qualifying will now be part of GP2.

"It is a fundamental part of racing and it is what the F1 teams want from the series."

Next year's series looks certain to comprise 11 European-based rounds, with supporting GPs and the finale to be a stand alone meeting that GP2 would headline. "The idea is to have the final race away from F1 and have something special," the GP2 spokesman explained.