Auto GP test in Monza
03.03.2012
I have gotten the pleasure to drive in the first race in the Auto GP World Series this year, which starts off in the legendary Monza circuit in Italy next weekend. Yesterday was the first official test for the series this year, in Monza, and I was driving for the new British team Virtuosi UK.
Auto GP World Series has developed from what they before called Euro Formula 3000, but is now re-branded Auto GP, as it has changed to using the former A1 cars and now is a world championship, having races in Italy, Spain, Morocco, Hungary, Portugal, Brazil and U.S.A.
Auto GP World Series is a highly competitive championship, with high caliber drivers. Most of them are well known for heavy prestige in Formula 3, GP3 and GP2. The cars are highly powerful with 3,4 liter V8 engines, and are using a modern chassis from Lola. This is definitively a very prestigious series to drive.
Team Virtuosi UK is a new team this year in Auto GP. It is a British team which has taken over the former DAMS’s Auto GP team, which was the winner team in Auto GP last year, and as we know, I was driving for DAMS’s GP2 team in GP2 last year.
The first official test round was divided in two parts, one in the morning, and one in the afternoon. For me it was the first time I was driving a Auto GP car, and the first time for team Virtuosi UK to run a Auto GP team.
In the first part of the test, I got P2, only half a tenth of a second behind P1.
In the second part of the test I got P3, only 0,266 seconds behind P1.
The results of the test day are very good! The team did a good job in managing the first run as an Auto GP team. We collected a lot of good data, and we got to test setups on all different tire compounds, especially on hard and medium compound tires.
I got a good feeling with the new car. It definitively kicks off. And I am very excited to drive more, because I felt I had much more to give. So I am looking forward to my first race this year in Monza next weekend, March 9
th to March 11
th.
At the moment my plans for my 2012 season is to start my first race in Auto GP World Series in Italy, March 9
th to March 11
th. After this I will choose if I go for GP2 or to complete the Auto GP series. The first race in GP2 is in Kuala Lumpur in March 23
rd – 25
th, and there is also a possibility for me to drive in a very good GP2 team in GP2 in this year. Everything comes down to what we can be able to finance. No matter which way I choose to go, I will go all in, and do my best to be the best I can be, and to learn as much as I can, to be better than the best I can be. From 2011 in GP2 I stand with unique experience for a new season in GP2 or a season in Auto GP.
I’m looking forward to race in 2012.
