GP2 reveals 11-round 2013 schedule

The organisers of the GP2 Series have announced the championship’s 2013 calendar, with Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina circuit hosting the final round.

The 11-round schedule will kick off at Sepang on March 22-24, coinciding with the Malaysian Grand Prix.

The series will then follow the same pattern as last year before finishing in Abu Dhabi, which replaces Singapore as the final round of the championship on 1-3 November. The Singapore event has been moved to September.

Unlike this year, GP2 will have a single round in Bahrain in 2013 and the Valencia round has been dropped.

“2013 will be another strong season for GP2. We have decided to keep the prestigious tracks outside of Europe, starting with Sepang and Sakhir, two venues which provided some heart-stopping action last season,” said GP2 boss Bruno Michel.

“I am very pleased to be closing the season in Abu Dhabi: we have been to that track several times with GP2 Asia and raced there last time in November 2011 with our latest generation car.

“Since the series started in 2005, we have always provided the drivers with a car close to F1 in performance and used the same tyres.

“This package guarantees the GP2 drivers to gain the ultimate and most-needed experience to graduate to the next category.

“Our sole goal has always been and will continue to remain to prepare the next generation of F1 drivers. I believe that’s exactly what we will see again in 2013 and I am really looking forward to next season.”

Organisers have also confirmed pre-season tests at Jerez on 26-28 February and Barcelona on 5-7 March.

2013 calendar

22-24 March        Sepang, Malaysia
 19-21 April        Sakhir, Bahrain
 10-12 May          Barcelona, Spain
 24-26 May          Monte Carlo, Monaco
 28-30 June         Silverstone, Great-Britain
 05-07 July         Nurburg, Germany
 26-28 July         Budapest, Hungary
 23-25 August       Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
 06-08 September    Monza, Italy
 20-22 September    Singapore, Singapore
 01-03 November     Abu Dhabi, UAE
 

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/formula-cars/gp2/gp2-reveals-11-round-2013-schedule

Yuji Ide Jesús Iglesias Taki Inoue Innes Ireland Eddie Irvine