Bruno's Blog

As one door closes, another one opens. The iSport International team and myself ended the GP2 Asia season without getting the results we wanted. We were competitive enough to contest Romain Grosjean for the championship, but absolutely nothing went our way. I just wasn't meant to win a race in the series, and the final race just about summed my season up.

But I have to focus on the positives going into this weekend's GP2 Main Series opener in Barcelona. The Asia Series was just a warm-up for the main event, so if anything was going to go wrong, it's good that it's already happened because we all start from zero this weekend.

Even under the difficult conditions we faced in Asia, I worked well with the team and we faced the challenges together. We dealt with the problems as we faced them, and I feel stronger for the experience.

I think the team respects me more now, and I respect them too. We know what we want from each other and I feel well prepared for the main series - which is what everyone wants to win. It was worth doing the Asia Series, because we've learned a lot from it together, so we can take these lessons and not make the same mistakes in Europe.

The problems in Asia were frustrating, but they were just circumstances working against us. Whether it was the pitstop in Bahrain, when I had to stack in the pits behind my team-mate, or Sentul, when I was penalised for overtaking a safety car that was running out of fuel, things like this make me angry, sure, but what can you do about it? Lesson learned, and move on to the next one.

At the end of the day, the team and myself have exactly the same objective and we're working towards winning. There's no point in arguing, if there's criticism then it has to be constructive, to push us forward as a team. People make mistakes, like the pitstop situation in Dubai, which cost me the win, but we've paid for it and we've moved on. We have new pitstop procedures in place, so it won't happen again.

Looking forwards, I can't wait for this weekend. I was strong in Barcelona last year, and took my first GP2 victory in the feature race, and my aim is to repeat it. Testing with the new car has gone well, and I don't see why we won't be quick this weekend.

We've had the right preparation and I'd say our race pace is our strength at the moment. For qualifying, we'll have to see where we are on Friday afternoon - I think we have to work on that a little. But I think it's a case of chipping away and finding that perfect lap at the right moment.

I enjoy the circuit, and the team has a pretty good record there too. The car chasing me down last year was iSport's champion Timo Glock - but he wasn't quick enough to catch me, even on new tyres.

It's been great to work with my team-mate Karun Chandhok as we develop the new car. We've been able to share the workload, a bit like a Formula One team does when it launches a new chassis, and he's been very useful.

The new car is very quick, especially in high-speed corners, because it has more downforce than the previous one. I can't say for sure if we'll be 100 per cent competitive this weekend, I'd prefer the car to be a little less nervous, but I think it's a case of rounding off the edges.

I think my main rivals will be the usual suspects: Chandhok is quick, if he puts it together over a race weekend he'll be a threat, and then you have the ART drivers Romain Grosjean and Luca Filippi, they are quite strong. Filippi is extra eager to go for the title because it's his third year in GP2.

Pastor Maldonado and Andi Zuber will pose a threat at Piquet Sports, especially in qualifying but I'm not sure in the races, and Giorgio Pantano will bring Racing Engineering forward. Kamui Kobayashi has looked quick for DAMS, the Arden pair have shown promise - there are many people who will be strong for us to beat.

I'll be lapping the track on my bike this week in my final preparations, in between training sessions, and I'm really looking forward to it. Now it's time to push!