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
Rio Haryanto Switches To Barwa Addax For 2013
Rio Haryanto has switched to Barwa Addax for the 2013 GP2 Series season, after his competitive debut season in the series with Carlin alongside Max Chilton. The Indonesian star graduated from GP3 in 2012, and enjoyed relative success including one pole position and several points scoring finishes. With Carlin signing Jolyon Palmer and Felipe Nasr for 2013, Haryanto has been forced to look elsewhere for a drive.
During his debut season in GP2, Rio Haryanto was once again able to test Formula 1 machinery at Marussia’s Young Driver Test programme at Silverstone in July. The 19-year-old was able to carry out the test alongside then GP2 team-mate Max Chilton, who has recently graduated from the world of GP2 to Formula 1 with Marussia. Like with all drivers currently racing in GP2 and GP3, Rio Haryanto’s ambitions are to emulate Max Chilton in one day progressing up the motor sport ladder to F1.
“I am pleased to be joining the Addax Team for 2013, they are a team that have a very good history in GP2 with many of their drivers progressing into Formula 1.” Explained Rio Haryanto, “This will be my second year in GP2 so with all the experience gained I am confident that 2013 will be a successful year. I would like to thank my sponsors Pertamina, Garuda Indonesia, Telkomsel and Kiky for their continued support.”
Barwa Addax took three victories throughout the 2012 GP2 Series season, at three of the season’s most iconic venues at Monte-Carlo, Hockenheim and Spa-Francorchamps. Rio Haryanto, who is still searching for his maiden GP2 victory, will understandably be striving to emulate those results for the Spanish outfit, who were Constructors’ Champions in 2008 and 2011.
Picture Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service
Rio Haryanto Clinches Maiden GP2 Pole At Waterlogged Spa
Indonesian sensation Rio Haryanto has stormed to his maiden GP2 pole for Saturday’s feature race, after once again showing his superlative wet weather skills around the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The Carlin driver will line-up alongside James Calado on the grid, with the second row consisting of Esteban Gutierrez and Marcus Ericsson.
The vital qualifying session was initially delayed by several minutes due to the adverse weather conditions, with the rain having lashed down upon the circuit on and off for the majority of the day. However, once the session finally got underway it was Rio Haryanto who led out the traditional long queue of awaiting drivers. The conditions had minimally improved since the morning’s practice session, however the track was still perilous in places.
Johnny Cecotto jr., who endured a heavy incident during practice, set the first timed lap of the session with a 02:23.602. This was almost immediately better by the Carlin of Rio Haryanto, who set a 02:22.377. However, with the rain subsiding slightly, the times quickly began to tumble in traditional GP2 qualifying fashion.
The Caterham of Giedo van der Garde and the Lotus of James Calado shared the top spot as the session progressed, before Haryanto once again asserted his authority over the damp proceedings. Once the drivers had pitted for fresher wet weather tyres, quick times began to emerge once again throughout the pack, as James Calado and then Marcus Ericsson shot to the top spot on the timing sheets.
However, pole position for the feature race was destined for only one man throughout the wet qualifying session. Rio Haryanto stormed to the top with only minutes remaining in the session with a 02:17.535, as the Indonesian driver showed further examples of his apt skill in adverse weather conditions. One of his most memorable victories during his GP3 career came at the Nurburgring in similar conditions, however the Indonesian driver was then tip-toeing around the track on slick tyres.
Hopefully wet weather tyres won’t be necessary for tomorrow afternoon’s feature race, as Rio Haryanto searches for his maiden GP2 race victory. His personal best finish so far this season was 5th at the European Grand Prix feature race, a result he’ll be striving to emulate once the five red lights go out tomorrow.
Picture Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service
Max Chilton Fastest During Bahrain GP2 Practice
One week after the Bahrain Grand Prix, GP2 have stayed on in the kingdom for their own standalone race weekend, the second consecutive race meeting for the Series on the Sakhir International Circuit. Carlin’s Max Chilton was fastest in this morning’s practice session, with Davide Valsecchi only three tenths behind.
The two Coloni’s of Fabio Onidi and Stefano Coletti were first out as the session got underway, with Onidi being one of the first drivers’ to set a competitive lap time with a 01:43.660. The two Caterham’s of Giedo van der Garde and Rodolfo Gonzalez then went fastest, with the Venezuelan driver set to test Caterham’s F1 car at Mugello next week.
Carlin then showed their hand, as Max Chilton went fastest with a 01:42.136, as his Indonesian team-mate Rio Haryanto slotted into 2nd place. The session was then momentarily halted as the iSport International of Jolyon Palmer stopped out on track at turn 8. As the cars’ returned to the pits, and the marshals retrieved the stricken car, the session’s time remained ticking away.
With only five minutes of the session remaining, the track returned to green flag conditions as the majority of the field returned for one last flying lap. Championship leader, Davide Valsecchi, was able to slot into 2nd place as the Arden of Luiz Razia remained not too far behind in 3rd position.
The GP2 cars’ will return to the track in a busy Friday schedule for qualifying later on, before the feature race takes place in the afternoon instead of its usual Saturday afternoon slot.
Picture Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service
Davide Valsecchi Fastest On Day 1 Of GP2 Test
As the opening round of the 2012 GP2 Series looms ever closer, today saw the opening day of pre-season testing for the Series at Jerez. The Series starts late next month, for the first time supporting the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang.
As the day dawned, 9 rookies (Nasr, Calado, Ghirelli, Trummer, Dillmann, Melker, Haryanto, Onidi and de Jong), and 1 new team (Venezuela GP Lazarus) all prepared to make their first track appearance of the new season. Sole tyre supplier, Pirelli, were at hand offering the teams’ two compounds in Hard (Prime) and Medium (Option) tyres.
The day started in usual testing fashion, in cold but sunny conditions. As the morning session began, all 26 cars immediately piled out of the pits to set their first installation laps, all seemingly eager to get started.
Indonesian GP3 graduate, Rio Haryanto, topped the timing sheets for Carlin as the morning session crossed the one hour mark. It was then Dutch GP3 graduate, Nigel Melker’s turn to top the timing sheets for Ocean Racing Technology as the session wore on.
The times then began to tumble as Rodolfo Gonzalez went quickest for Caterham Racing, before Sauber’s reserve driver Esteban Gutiérrez went quickest for Lotus GP. With an hour to go in the morning session, Marcus Ericsson flew to the top of the timing sheets before being replaced at the top by Davide Valsecchi.
Frenchman, Tom Dillmann, had a misfortunate start to testing for Ocean Racing Technology as he caused the first red flag period of the day. The 22-year-old suffered a minor incident after running wide, before the car clipped the barrier.
As the afternoon session began, Swiss driver Fabio Leimer set the initial pace for Racing Engineering. However it wasn’t long before Italian driver Davide Valsecchi continued his domination of the first day for DAMS, eager to capitalize on a successful morning session.
The second red flag of the day was caused by Italian GP3 graduate, Vittorio Ghirelli, who stopped his car on the track. The 17-year-old is testing for rookie team, Venezuela GP Lazarus, this week alongside Fabrizio Crestani.
As the day came to a close, Marcus Ericsson went top for iSport International. He was momentarily dislodged by Stéphane Richelmi, before returning to the top to end a successful afternoon’s running for the Swedish driver.
The three day test at Jerez continues tomorrow, where all 26 cars will resume their testing in preparation for the 2012 season.
Morning session: Pos Driver Team Time Gap 1. Davide Valsecchi DAMS 1m26.014s 2. Fabio Onidi Coloni 1m26.217s + 0.203s 3. Jolyon Palmer iSport 1m26.219s + 0.205s 4. Marcus Ericsson iSport 1m26.266s + 0.252s 5. Esteban Gutierrez Lotus 1m26.408s + 0.394s 6. James Calado Lotus 1m26.649s + 0.635s 7. Stéphane Richelmi Trident 1m26.888s + 0.874s 8. Stefano Coletti Coletti 1m26.891s + 0.877s 9. Dani Clos Rapax 1m26.944s + 0.930s 10. Nigel Melker Ocean 1m26.944s + 0.930s 11. Rodolfo Gonzalez Caterham 1m26.971s + 0.957s 12. Giedo van der Garde Caterham 1m26.990s + 0.976s 13. Johnny Cecotto Addax 1m27.013s + 0.999s 14. Fabio Leimer Racing Engineering 1m27.124s + 1.110s 15. Max Chilton Carlin 1m27.187s + 1.173s 16. Simon Trummer Arden 1m27.408s + 1.394s 17. Luiz Razia Arden 1m27.437s + 1.423s 18. Josef Kral Addax 1m27.519s + 1.505s 19. Rio Haryanto Carlin 1m27.842s + 1.828s 20. Nathanael Berthon Racing Engineering 1m27.917s + 1.903s 21. Julian Leal Trident 1m28.018s + 2.004s 22. Felipe Nasr DAMS 1m28.076s + 2.062s 23. Fabrizio Crestani Lazarus 1m28.385s + 2.371s 24. Daniel De Jong Rapax 1m28.438s + 2.424s 25. Tom Dillmann Ocean 1m28.985s + 2.971s 26. Vittorio Ghirelli Lazarus 1m29.642s + 3.628s Afternoon session: Pos Driver Team Time Gap 1. Marcus Ericsson iSport 1m26.407s 2. Esteban Gutierrez Lotus 1m26.496s + 0.089s 3. James Calado Lotus 1m26.586s + 0.179s 4. Fabio Leimer Racing Engineering 1m26.776s + 0.369s 5. Stéphane Richelmi Trident 1m27.017s + 0.610s 6. Johnny Cecotto Addax 1m27.138s + 0.731s 7. Davide Valsecchi DAMS 1m27.179s + 0.772s 8. Nathanael Berthon Racing Engineering 1m27.205s + 0.798s 9. Josef Kral Addax 1m27.236s + 0.829s 10. Max Chilton Carlin 1m27.237s + 0.830s 11. Nigel Melker Ocean 1m27.238s + 0.831s 12. Dani Clos Rapax 1m27.243s + 0.836s 13. Jolyon Palmer iSport 1m27.253s + 0.846s 14. Fabrizio Crestani Lazarus 1m27.496s + 1.089s 15. Stefano Coletti Coloni 1m27.543s + 1.136s 16. Rio Haryanto Carlin 1m27.580s + 1.173s 17. Julian Leal Trident 1m27.799s + 1.392s 18. Simon Trummer Arden 1m27.838s + 1.431s 19. Luiz Razia Arden 1m27.867s + 1.460s 20. Tom Dillmann Ocean 1m27.871s + 1.464s 21. Daniel de Jong Rapax 1m27.914s + 1.507s 22. Felipe Nasr DAMS 1m28.096s + 1.689s 23. Vittorio Ghirelli Lazarus 1m29.117s + 2.710s 24. Giedo van der Garde Caterham 1m29.472s + 3.065s 25. Fabio Onidi Coloni 1m29.492s + 3.085s 26. Rodolfo Gonzalez Caterham 1m31.159s + 4.752s
Max Chilton And Rio Haryanto To Race At Carlin In 2012
As the 2012 GP2 Series looms ever closer, Carlin have announced a new partnership with the Russian F1 team, Marussia, for 2012 as well as their all important driver line-up. Max Chilton has been confirmed as staying with the Carlin team, with Indonesian driver Rio Haryanto graduating to the team from GP3.
Max Chilton has competed in two GP2 seasons’ so far, his first with Ocean Racing Technology in 2010 and last season with Carlin. After a relatively successful season last year, which consisted of three points finishes for the British driver, he is looking forward to another season in GP2.
“I’m very excited about the season ahead in GP2.” Explained the 20-year-old, “Although we didn’t get the results we’d hoped for last season, we had a very good car and I can’t wait to get back on track and build on the progress we’ve made over the winter. To be racing in Marussia livery makes the season ahead even more exciting, and as a driver I’m delighted to be associated with such a young and promising F1 team.”
Rio Haryanto is making his graduation up the motor sport ladder, after a highly successful 2011 season racing for Marussia Manor Racing in GP3. The Indonesian driver picked up two race victories, including two podiums as well as successfully finishing all 16 races of the season without retiring. Part of the Marussia F1 Team Young Driver Programme, Haryanto could well become the first Indonesian F1 driver if he makes the big step up in the next few years.
“I am looking forward to my first year in the Series with the Marussia Carlin GP2 Team” said the 19-year-old from Solo in Central Java. “Carlin is a team that has produced many championship winning drivers over the years. The first year in GP2 will be a steep learning curve but I will be trying to learn as much as possible and aim for consistent results. I am looking forward to the challenge. I am also grateful for the continued support from Pertamina, who have been supporting my motor sport activities.”
The first pre-season test for the Series is this week, from February 28th – March 1st at the Jerez circuit. Both Max Chilton and Rio Haryanto will take to the track throughout the three days testing.
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