The Auto GP championship is set for round 4 of the 2013 season as Teams and Drivers are ready to line-up for the first time at Silverstone. For the first time in history, Auto GP is lining-up at the Northamptonshire venue. The championship, created by Enzo Coloni, will be running at one of the most spectacular circuits in racing after having provided motorsports with some top drivers including Formula 1 racer Romain Grosjean, GP2 runners Kevin Ceccon and Adrian Quaife-Hobbs who cruised to the podium at Monte Carlo, and talents like Luca Filippi, Adrien Tambay, Rio Haryanto, Sergey Sirotkin, Daniel De Jong and more others. Several news and additions are expected for the first British round of the season. Super Nova International will be fielding a third Zytek-powered car for the first time although the name of its driver will be only revealed on Friday morning, in time for Practice. He will be partnering Budapest pole-sitter and race winner Vittorio Ghirelli and Francesco Dracone, returning after his 2013 debut in Hungary. Virtuosi UK is set for their home run and confirmed Russian Max Snegirev and Italian Andrea Roda, who was up for a great recovery at the Hungaroring.
The only British driver in Auto GP, Luciano Bacheta, is lining-up with Zele Racing. The reigning Formula 2 Champion is set to be partnered by Tamas Pal Kiss, replacing Narain Karthikeyan. Ghinzani Motorsport will expand their operation to two cars, with Romanian Robert Visoiu joined by rookie Kevin Giovesi, coming from the GP2 Series, while Euronova with retain their Japanese duo consisting in Yoshitaka Kuroda and championship leader Kimiya Sato. His main rival, Sergio Campana (second in standings, 5 points back) will rely on a new team-mate in the Ibiza Racing Team.
The Spanish squad had to replace Team Principal and driver Giuseppe Cipriani who is suffering from back pain. His ride will be driven by Fabrizio Crestani, returning to Auto GP after a GP2 stint in 2012. Riccardo Agostini will attempt to be back on the podium for MP Motorsport in an effort to repeat his top finish at Budapest, and will be paired by Dutchmen Daniel De Jong and Meindert van Buuren. On the other hand, MLR71 will see the return of Giacomo Ricci and Michele La Rosa.
The weekend's schedule will start with two 30-minute practice sessions on Friday at 10:00 and 12:45. Qualifying will be held at 15:30. Race 1 is set to start on Saturday at 14:20, followed by Race 2 on Sunday at 13:20.
