GP2 Announce 2009 Roaster & Calendar

The GP2 officials have released the calendar for next season, along with the complete team roaster for 2009. The official statement gave us a few clues on how the series is going to look like the following year, with slight changes in areas mentioned above.

First of all, BCN Competicion will not be joining the series for the 4 year running, as the Spanish outfit was replaced by newcomers Ocean Racing Technology. The new team – owned by FIA WTCC and former F1 driver Tiago Monteiro – has already debuted in the GP2 Asia championship earlier this year, where they are currently yet to score a point after 2 rounds.

Apart from the new entry, all teams are to remain the same as last year, with each of the 13 teams beginning their GP2 campaign on two-car efforts. Most of the teams are yet to announce their drivers' lineup for the upcoming season. The GP2 roaster is, however, subject to changes further on, should ART Grand Prix decide to buy out Honda's place – as rumored lately – in Formula 1.

The championship officials have also decided upon next year's official calendar. As compare to the last season, the GP2 caravan will not be traveling to Magny-Cours anymore, following the circuit's failure to secure sponsorship for the upcoming F1 season. The French venue was replaced by the new Algarve circuit in Portugal – currently used by F1 teams to run tests on their 2009 machineries – scheduled as series' new season finale.

The season will get under way in Barcelona, just like last season, on May the 10th. The season will consist of 9 rounds, under the following order: Barcelona, Monte-Carlo, Istanbul, Silverstone, Nurburgring, Budapest, Valencia, Spa, Monza and Algarve. All GP2 events will serve as support races for the F1 championship, except for the season finale at Algarve (on September the 20th).