After its successful debut season, the GP2 series is building on the platform established in 2005 with a selection of modifications, designed to improve competition and maintain the GP2 series’ position as the world’s premiere feeder category for Formula One.
As was promised at the outset of the GP2 series, the car with which our 26 drivers will compete for championship honours in 2006 will be an updated and upgraded version of that raced in 2005.
The changes made to the car are aimed at maintaining a level playing field in the GP2 series, as from the first test of 2006 all teams, drivers, mechanics and engineers will start again with what is, in many senses, a new car. With new set-up possibilities, new tyres and a new sporting regulation to add to the mix, the GP2 series looks set to pick up where it left off in 2005, with enthralling and close racing across the field.
GP2 series 2006 Technical Regulation Updates
The 2006-spec GP2 series car, designed by Dallara Automobili, will feature one major aerodynamic change in so far as the rear wing element will now feature a biplane wing, with the triple-plane used in 2005 only permitted for use at the Monaco round of the series. The cars will also feature reinforced front upper and lower wishbones and reinforced front and rear suspension uprights.
Brembo have developed new monobloc brake calipers and disc bells, for use exclusively in the GP2 series in 2006.
The GP2 series 4.0 litre Renault V8 engine, made under the supervision of Mecachrome, will feature an internal, cartographic and software upgrade, and the car will also feature a new engine air duct. These upgrades have been designed to improve performance and fuel consumption.
The GP2 series car will also feature internal upgrades to improve cooling. A new water radiator, radiator duct, oil/water heat exchanger, modified oil degazer, new oil and water pipes and new heat exchanger fixing brackets will be present on each of the 26 cars competing this season.
The 2006 GP2 series gearbox, manufactured by GearTek, will feature a new 8 position barrel, ratchet body and software alongside a new transverse shafts fixing system to enable improved gear selection.
In addition, all GP2 series cars will run on new 'slick' Bridgestone tyres, which will not feature the grooves seen in 2005. The new tyres will be supplied in soft, medium and hard compounds, with the choice being pre-determined by Bridgestone and the GP2 series before each event. The wet tyres will remain at 2005 specification.
GP2 series 2006 Sporting Regulation Update
In 2006, GP2 series sporting regulations will change to award the driver who sets the fastest lap of a race a single point, rather than the two points given in 2005. Added to this, the driver must have started from his prescribed grid position in order to claim fastest lap.
Bruno Michel, GP2 series Organiser
“When we came up with our plans for the development of the GP2 series, it was always our intention to continuously upgrade our car over the years of the championship in an effort to provide fresh challenges to the mechanics and engineers of our teams."
"I believe that our development team has done a very good job in both improving the performance of the GP2 series car, and maintaining the challenge which our teams and drivers will face in the forthcoming season. I must also thank Bridgestone for the hard work and enthusiasm they have shown in designing and manufacturing a totally new concept of dry weather tyres for the series. 2006 promises to be another exciting chapter in the story of the GP2 series.”
Performance and durability changes for '06
Didier Perrin, Technical Director, GP2 series
“The upgrades that we have made to the GP2 series car for 2006 will provide a new and exciting challenge to every member of every team. While from the outside the car will look very similar, inside there are a number of changes that we have made to improve performance and durability."
"The switch onto slick tyres, combined with the new brakes, has seen a marked improvement in the lap times we were able to set in development testing. As a consequence, we have decided to decrease the level of rear end downforce by reducing the number of planes on the rear wing. We have seen that this decrease in rear-end grip has opened up many new set-up possibilities, as the car is now much more delicate to change. Essentially, everyone will be starting from scratch at the first test in February. I am looking forward to seeing how the drivers and their engineers make the best of the upgrades and the modifications, as we set out on a new and challenging season of competition.”
Hirohide Hamashima, Director of Bridgestone Motorsport Tyre Development
“The switch from grooved to slick dry weather tyres for the 2006 GP2 series is an exciting new challenge and one we are enjoying. Using our latest technology we have been busy developing the new slick tyres over the winter period. This has involved checking all aspects of the tyres, including the safety of the tyres, firstly at our indoor Technical Centre facilities in Japan and then later at two on-track tests with the GP2 series development team at Paul Ricard in France. We think the move to slicks will add a new dimension to racing in the GP2 series as the nature of slick tyres provides more stable car behaviour. As a result we are fully expecting to see some very competitive racing from this year’s crop of young talented drivers!”
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