GP2 Asia and GP2 Series merges in one series for 2012

[Mekola]

GP2 Asia will not exist any longer, because it will be merged with GP2 Series in 2012. This year both series had the same cars, the same teams and almost the same drivers. Also the last two seasons of the Asian series were slightly more than a glorifying tests in race, with numerous driver changes and fewer and fewer rounds: 2009-10 season had only 4 rounds, all in Mid-East, and 2011 season had only 2, one in Abu Dhabi and other in Imola.

Yas Marina round, proposed for an hypothetic GP2 Asia season, will be turned as a non-championship event. In that event, current GP2 teams could earn an economic prize and test potential drivers for forthcoming 2012 season.

Furthermore, GP2 won't be exclusively European since now, some extra-European rounds could be added in the Main Series season. Is to remember that GP2 Series raced at Bahrain in 2005, and in Abu Dhabi in 2010. Back in time, the predecessor series F3000 had races at Interlagos, Brazil in 2001 and 2002.

[Allyc85]

Great way to increase the costs then, at a time when everyone is still struggling for money...

[ifacompare]

It can only help the sport and create more competition

[Allyc85]

lol...

[Mekola]

Ally85, the merge doesn't serve to increase cost, but decrease them. GP2 as a series is interested to have venues at least in Middle East, and since GP2 conception in 2005 they had a race there (last round that year was in Bahrain). GP2 Asia was created in 2008 and THAT actually increased the cost of all GP2 teams. The organization insisted and insisted to race there, despite the Asian series was increasingly dissoving his original purpose (Compete with A1GP? Got Asian drivers interested in the sereis?). So there is no shame to include Bahrain and Abu Dhabi into Main GP2 Series since 2012. Because they would have been included in any way. In fact, sincerity and simplicity have won over one redundant series.