The clash between the Auto GP event in Oschersleben and the Budapest GP2 weekend, both planned for 29-31 August, created a strange twist of fate for some of the Auto GP drivers.
Luca Filippi and Kevin Ceccon, who are currently driving in both Series, did the same choice: they will miss the Hungarian GP2 round to race in Oschersleben. It’s a decision that underlines the important role taken by Auto GP in international motorsport, and that has its roots in a championship classification that is still very open: Luca and Kevin are first and second in the drivers standings respectively (with 98 and 80 points), and none of them want to miss the German Auto GP event because this would mean handing the other a too big advantage in the chase for the title.
This situation created a big chance for another Auto GP racer: forced to find a driver to step-in for Filippi in GP2, SuperNova chose Adam Carroll: the brit, that just some days ago clinched a pole position and a 2nd place finish in his Auto GP debut with Campos Racing in Donington, will drive in GP2 for the team managed by David Sears until the end of the season: this will complete his return to top-notch motorsport after three years of reduced activity.Enzo Coloni: “What’s happening for the last weekend of July is pretty curious, but it underlines some very positive trends for Auto GP: that two drivers who are committed to both Series are choosing to miss the GP2 round, on a track like Nurburgring and with all the F1 guys around, it’s a clear signal that Auto GP has built a strong identity in motorsport, and in just two seasons. On the other side, Adam Carroll being chosen by SuperNova for the rest of the GP2 seasons confirms the role of Auto GP in launching and re-launching the best talents. There were no doubts that Carroll was one of the fastest blokes around, but despite this for the last three years he couldn’t find a full time seat. Then he was amazing in Auto GP, reminding everybody how quick he can be, and this was enough for SuperNova to decide to give him a very big chance in GP2.
It’s a situation that reminds me a bit of what happened with our 2010 Champion, Romain Grosjean. After his early F1 debut he had been forgotten, and Auto GP and DAMS brought him back under the spotlight. Now he is the favourite for the GP2 title and for an F1 seat in 2012. Obviously I hope that the same will happen to Adam”.
