The Narain Karthikeyan Auto GP Thread

[Londoner]

Auto GP is coming to Silverstone next season.

[AndreaModa]

Auto GP is coming to Silverstone next season.

That must mean the WTCC is coming here as well? Might go along, could use a laugh on a Sunday afternoon!

[Leyton House]

I imagine most of you know this already, but I just learned the man behind this Auto GP thing is the one and only Enzo Coloni! Reject royalty.

[Frogfoot9013]

I imagine most of you know this already, but I just learned the man behind this Auto GP thing is the one and only Enzo Coloni! Reject royalty.

I didn't know that. Anyway, that's just given me a reason to follow it next year!

[Bobby Doorknobs]

Quite a bit of news since the last post in this thread.

1. An 18-year-old Russian driver will be entering the series this season. His father, who once tested for Minardi, has been a favourite of Jamie and Enoch (and therefore this forum) for a long time. Yes, Nikita Zlobin is racing in Auto GP this year!
2. Bad news: The opening round in Morocco has been cancelled. Why? The political situation in North Africa has scared them off. Although that's not stopping the WTCC...
3. Coloni is back in motor racing! After their mysterious exclusion from the 2012 GP2 season and subsequent departure from the series, Paolo Coloni is entering a three-car team in the series run by his father.

[Waris]

I just learned they merged with Formula Acceleration 1. This series has "REJECT" written all over it... which makes it a must watch for me this year.

[Bobby Doorknobs]

This season has been suspended. It wasn't looking good after the FA1 merger fell through and only nine cars showed up for the opening round. They say they will resume the championship once they gain an adequate number of participants, but I find it hard to believe that will happen. On the bright side, Jungle Boy leads the championship.

[Waris]

So... I feel like I'm the only one mired out somewhere in a swamp going "Hello? Hello? Auto GP? Hello...?"

The season was supposed to resume this weekend with a round at Brno, but when I go to the Brno website all it says is "ETCC, BOSS GP and Superkart", no mention of Auto GP at all. The Auto GP website itself also has no news.

Is there any more hope for this championship? Why are there no additional cars coming in? It can't be a very expensive series to run in? I still don't understand why the FA1 merger fell through, by the way.

[golic_2004]

Congratulations(???????) to Antonio Pizzonia on winning the championship(?) if the last race doesn't happen.

[Samster]

And we thought Auto GP was dead!

It's just been rebranded as Auto GP Formula Open and will essentially be like BOSS GP with cars from Formula 1, GP2, GP3, Formula 3000, Formula 3, World Series and Formula Masters eligible to enter alongside the ex A1GP Lolas that have ran in the series since 2009. Seven teams have just confirmed their entry including Auto GP regulars, Zele and MLR 71 though sadly no F1 cars have been entered yet. I'd expect the series will largely be a gentleman driver's playgroud with the likes of old Auto GP favourites, Giuseppe Cipriani and Michele la Rosa.

All meetings will take place in Italy bringing the series back to its roots from the early years and a far cry from trecking out to Brazil and California only four seasons ago.

http://www.autogp.net/newssingola2_en.asp?c=249

[dinizintheoven]

So who is it who owns the 2011 HRT chassis these days? Weren't they supposed to be used for BOSS at some stage?

Here's the ideal opportunity. Maybe whoever buys those old Virgin/Marussia chassis might want to give this a go as well.

[dr-baker]

So who is it who owns the 2011 HRT chassis these days? Weren't they supposed to be used for BOSS at some stage?

Here's the ideal opportunity. Maybe whoever buys those old Virgin/Marussia chassis might want to give this a go as well.

If I had the means and opportunity, I would try entering the MasterCard Lola T97/30s. Or a Super Aguri, Simtek or Pacific.

[Samster]

Well the first meeting at Adria happened. Only seven drivers, all but one of them running the A1GP Lola that the series has been running for several years anyway. And only six actually made the start.

[golic_2004]