The season of the GP2 Series, the feeder series of the FIA Formula One World Championship, was held in mid-May at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya. In 2016, Team Prema Racing enters the GP2 Series to meet a new challenge – joined by RAVENOL as technology partner – and made its debut with impressive success.   

Prema Racing has been one of the most successful single-seater racing teams in Europe for many years. In 2015, they celebrated their latest major successes to date courtesy of Sweden’s Felix Rosenqvist who won both the FIA Formula 3 European Championship title and the Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix. “Prema Racing is another successful squad in the bunch of RAVENOL partner teams we have successfully been cooperating with in motor racing for many years. It’s one of the true top teams in the single-seater racing world and now, due to the new involvement in the GP2 Series, it’s on the grid of every important single-seater series above karting and below Formula One,” says RAVENOL Motorsport Martin Huning.

On the grid, the colours of the Italian squad are represented by Italian Antonio Giovinazzi and French Red Bull Junior Pierre Gasly.

Event: Each GP2 race meeting comprises two championship rounds. Usually, the starting grid positions for race one on Saturday are determined following a practice session and a 30-minute qualifying session. And on Sunday, the top-eight have to line up on the grid according to the reverse-order regulations.

On the vehicle: In the GP2 series the teams have to use control technology. The four-litre V8 control engines supplied by the French technology company Mecachrome on behalf of Renault produce 450 kW (612bhp). The gears of the Mecachrome six-speed gearbox are changed by paddles on the steering wheels. The 612bhp engine accelerates the single-seater from 0 to 100kph in 2.9 seconds and to 200kph in 6.6 seconds. While accelerating to the car’s top speed of 320kph and while decelerating too, the drivers are exposed to enormous forces that can achieve a maximum of 3.9 G.  

With the first two championship rounds contested, Prema’s French driver holds the championship lead, followed by his compatriot Norman Nato (Team Racing Engineering) and Briton Alex Lynn (Team Dams). At Barcelona, P. Gasly convinced in particular with outstanding times in the practice session and the 30-minute qualifying session. In both sessions he set the fastest lap time and outpaced the entire field. Having secured two podiums in the season kick-off – third place in race one and second in race two – the goal for the third and fourth rounds of the season is clear: to defend the championship lead.

The next two races will be held this weekend at the French Riviera, in the Principality of Monaco, in the support programme of the Monaco GP, from 26th to 29th May. During the event, RAVENOL will supply it partners with new development steps of the special lubricants from Germany that afterwards will be analysed and consistently modified and enhanced throughout the season. 

Link: Prema Racing

Link: Driver