This  weekend  in  Barcelona  marks  the  start  of  the  fifth  season  of  the  GP2  Series,  now generally seen as the strongest feeder category for Formula 1.

On  April  23rd  2004  the  first  season  of  the  GP2  Series  kicked  off  in  Imola,  starting  one  of motorsport’s most exciting ventures. As the series celebrates its fifth anniversary we look forward to providing ever more excitement for our fans, as the best young drivers in the world fight for their place alongside the cream of racing talent in Formula 1. Following on from last year’s successful launch of the second generation car, 2009 sees the GP2 Series  pick  up  where  it  left  off. 

The  GP2  Series  organisers  had  just  two  considerations  in  mind when  they  were  working  on  the  2009  update  kit:  will any changes improve the package, and will they  be  economical  to  run.  Given  the  current  economic  climate  the  second  issue  is  an  obvious consideration, while the first issue leads to the second as well: the update had to avoid change just for the sake of change. The  GP2  Series  technical  team  considered  a  number  of  tweaks,  but  soon  made their first major decision: no modifications will be made to the aerodynamic configuration or suspension, which left the team free to work on a new engine specification. This evolution has been studied since 2007, and  takes  advantage  of  the  information  gained  from  the  last  four  years  of  racing.  Winter  testing proved the enhancements were correct, with the teams enjoying an increase in the power, usability and reliability of their cars.

Once again the championship opens in Barcelona, Spain when the Formula One circus opens their European season: this event will be the first of nine weekends as the official Formula One support series in 2009. For the first time since the start of the GP2 Series there will not be a mid-season test:  this  decision  was  made  in conjunction with the teams on the basis of controlling costs. The season  will  close  at  our  one  stand-alone  event  of  the  season,  mid-September  in  Portimao, Portugal, which will mark the first time that the GP2 Series has raced in Portugal. And  so,  this  weekend,  a  new  season  begins  in  Barcelona  where  twenty-six  drivers,  including eleven GP2 race winners and nine rookies, will compete for the first win of the season.