Julian Leal Q&A

Due largely to the success of both Pastor Maldonado and Sergio Perez during recent years’, South America is enjoying a resurgence in the world of Formula 1. Next season the Mexican Grand Prix is scheduled to make a return to the sport’s calendar for the first time since 1992, with companies such as Telmex and PDVSA assisting many drivers throughout the lower categories.

Amongst the many rising stars from South America is Columbian 23-year-old Julian Leal, who is currently competing in his third season in the GP2 Series with Racing Engineering. So far this season Leal has finished on the podium twice in succession at both Spa-Francorchamps and Monza, two of motorsport’s most iconic locations. Throughout his rise through the lower categories Julian Leal has won the F3000 Italian Series and a race in the Auto GP Series.

As Columbia’s nearest driver to the coveted world of Formula 1, the Bucaramanga-born driver is keen on becoming only the nation’s fourth driver in the sport and the first since Juan Pablo Montoya in 2006. With the GP2 season drawing to a conclusion with only two race weekends remaining, I caught up with Julian Leal to discuss his career so far and motorsport in South America.

Q: First of all Julian, many thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. So far this season you have picked up two podium finishes and two fastest laps with Racing Engineering. Already this has been your most competitive season in the GP2 Series, with two race weekends still to come. How would you describe your season so far with Racing Engineering?

Julian Leal: The second half of the season went really well for me. The team has helped me from the very beginning and I learned a lot with them. So it is a positive year for me.

Q: You made your debut in the GP2 Series in 2011 with Rapax in both the main Series and the Asian Series, after a season in the inaugural year of the Auto GP Series. How different, if at all, was life in GP2 in comparison to the Auto GP Series and the other categories you had previously competed in?

Julian Leal made his debut in the GP2 Asia Series back in 2011 with Rapax.

JL: The GP2 car is very different. It is faster, has more engine power and you go through corners much quicker. Also the carbon brakes make quite a difference. But the categories I raced in before were a good school.

Q: You began your open-wheel career in the Formula Renault 2.0 Panam Series with Pexin back in 2006. How exactly did you get into motorsport and begin your climb up the motorsport ladder?

JL: I started in Karting back in Colombia in the 100cc and 125cc categories. After winning the Nacam Cup, I was invited to participate in the Formula Renault 2000, where I participated in some races achieving good results, including three podium finishes. Then my father found the opportunity for me to race in Formula 3000 and from that day on I have moved to Europe racing in F3000, FR3.5, Auto GP and GP2.

Q: In 2008 you became the F3000 Italian Champion, beating the likes of Nicholas Prost, Luiz Razia and Fabio Onidi. However, you didn’t win a race all season. What were your feelings after winning that particular Championship but without winning a race?

JL: That was a very good year and I managed to be consistent from race to race. And in the end I scored more points than the others.

Q: So far in Formula 1 there have only been three drivers from Columbia, with Juan Pablo Montoya becoming the latest driver to do so with the likes of McLaren and Williams. Seeing as you’re currently the nearest Columbian driver to Formula 1, is there any added pressure on your shoulders?

Julian Leal is currently Columbia’s closest driver to the world of Formula 1.

JL: I try to simply enjoy the racing on a race by race base. Each time I get into the car, I try to give my best.

Q: With many drivers currently rising through the lower categories from numerous South American nations such as Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico and Columbia, how important do you think the return of the Mexican Grand Prix will be should it officially return next season on the Formula 1 calendar?

JL: I think it’s very important for the South American drivers because with another Grand Prix there, it might make the search for sponsorship easier.

Q: After a relatively competitive season so far with Racing Engineering, what are your hopes for next season. Do you aim to remain in the GP2 Series, or possibly return to the Formula Renault 3.5 Series?

JL: Firstly the season has to finish and until then I am 100% focused on finishing it the best way possible. After the season I will decide about the next step.

Many thanks to Racing Engineering and Julian Leal for the communication and time taken to complete this interview.

Picture(s) Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service

Jake Rosenzweig To Partner Rio Haryanto At Barwa Addax In 2013

Spanish GP2 team Barwa Addax have confirmed that American driver Jake Rosenzweig will partner Rio Haryanto at the outfit in the forthcoming GP2 season, after the 23-year-old competed in the final two rounds of the season for Barwa Addax last year. Rosenzweig will become the first American to compete in the Series since Scott Speed.

After enjoying Championship supremacy in 2011 with Romain Grosjean, Barwa Addax endured a relatively tough 2012 season which yielded only two victories at the hands of both Johnny Cecotto jr. and Josef Kral. The Spanish outfit finished the year only 8th in the Constructors’ Championship with 131 points scored, a tally they will be aiming to better in the coming season with a revised driving line-up which includes Rio Haryanto and American star Jake Rosenzweig.

Jake Rosenzweig’s path to the GP2 Series has included stints in both the GP2 Asia, Auto GP and Formula Renault 3.5 categories. Towards the end of the 2012 GP2 season, Jake Rosenzweig was called upon by the Spanish outfit to partner Johnny Cecotto jr. in the final two rounds of the year at Monza and Singapore, where the American driver managed to finish all four races albeit well outside the points paying positions. However, Barwa Addax were impressed with Rosenzweig’s performances during both the final two rounds of the season and the post-season tests, and he will therefore compete in his first full season of GP2 action in 2013 alongside Indonesian ace Rio Haryanto.

“I am excited to be joining Addax for the 2013 GP2 season and wish to thank all involved for making this possible.” Said Jake Rosenzweig, “Having raced in the final two rounds of the 2012 Championship with Addax, I know what an opportunity this represents to be working with them again. The race calendar has some great circuits and I am looking forward to hitting the ground running. I will do my best to score as many points as possible over the course of the season.”

Barwa Addax have become the sixth team on the grid to confirm their full driver line-up for the forthcoming season, along with DAMS, Lotus GP, Arden International, Racing Engineering and Carlin. With so many Championship contenders on the grid for the new season, 2013 is expected to be yet another sensationally exciting season of GP2 action. Both Rio Haryanto and Jake Rosenzweig will be hoping to add to the excitement once the action gets underway in March at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Picture Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service

Giancarlo Serenelli Completes GP2 Grid

As the teams’ and drivers’ of GP2 arrive at Kuala Lumpur’s Sepang International Circuit for the opening round of the 2012 GP2 Series, the final vacancy on the grid has been filled as Giancarlo Serenelli has been confirmed for rookie team Venezuela GP Lazarus. The Venezuelan driver will race alongside Italian Fabrizio Crestani.

New team Venezuela GP Lazarus, formerly Team Lazarus, were founded in 2009 and have since raced in the EuroSeries 3000 and Auto GP. For 2012, they replace Super Nova Racing who had raced in GP2 since the series inception back in 2005.

Giancarlo Serenelli has previously contested in the Auto GP Series, racing in the first round at Monza earlier this month. In 2011, Serenelli won the Latam Challenge Series Championship for the third time in his career. He had won the Championship in both 2010 and 2008 previously. 

After taking part in the final GP2 pre-season test at Barcelona, Serenelli will get his first taste of GP2 race action this weekend. The GP2 Series returns to the Sepang International Circuit for the first time since 2008, when the now defunct GP2 Asia Series raced on the circuit.

Picture Copyright © Daniel Kalisz/GP2 Series Media Service 

Venezuela GP Lazarus Allocated Entry For GP2 Series

With Super Nova Racing leaving a vacancy on the 2012 GP2 grid, the place has been allocated to new team Venezuela GP Lazarus, who have become the fourth Italian team on the 2012 GP2 grid. 

The team was founded by Tancredi Pagiaro in 2009, with the team entering the EuroSeries 3000 Championship the same year. The following season, Team Lazarus entered the new Auto GP Championship with a single car. At the season opening race at Brno (Czech Republic), the team picked up a podium finish with 3rd place.

“We are pleased to welcome Venezuela GP Lazarus to [the] GP2 Series.” Said GP2 Series CEO, Bruno Michel, “They are a great addition to our competitive field of thirteen teams. Tancredi Pagiaro and most of his staff have been involved in GP2 in the past years and I am sure they will be able to be on pace very quickly.”

“We are very excited to be part of GP2 and I would like to thank the organizers for giving us this entry.” Commented Team Principal, Tancredi Pagiaro, “This Series is the most prestigious and competitive category after F1. I am proud that we have reached such an important agreement with the Venezuelan sponsors. With their help, we have been able to enter the prestigious GP2 Series. We know this will be a big challenge but we are ready for it and cannot wait to get started.”

Venezuela already have a huge involvement in Formula 1 after petroleum company, PDVSA, paid the Williams F1 team £29.4 million for pay driver Pastor Maldonado.

Picture Copyright © GP2 Series