The regulations

The GP2 Series is a one-make championship consisting of 24 identical cars. The chassis are designed by Dallara Automobili, and in 2010 will run under the specification GP2 / 08. The power base is a Mecachrome assembled 4l Renault V8 engine. The GP2 Series uses slick Bridgestone Potenza tyres in four specifications (super soft, soft, medium and hard) which are predetermined by Bridgestone in advance of the race weekend. Each driver has four sets of tyres per weekend and must start Sunday’s race on a fresh set. One wet specification is also made available.

No individual developments or upgrades are permitted in the series, and all spare parts must be purchased directly from the GP2 Series. Repairs of structural components must be carried out by Dallara in order to ensure integrity.

Weekend format and points allocation

A race weekend is composed of one half hour practice session and one half hour qualifying session, followed by two races.

The qualifying session is a straight fight for fastest laptime, and determines the order of the grid for Race 1. Two points are awarded for pole position.

Race 1 is run over 180km or 1hr15min, and each driver must complete one compulsory pitstop in which a minimum of two tyres must be changed. The top eight drivers score points (10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1) with a point being awarded to the driver who set the fastest lap of the race.

The grid for Race 2 is determined by the finishing order of the first race, with the top 8 positions reversed.

Race 2 is run over 120km or 45 minutes, with no pitstops allowed. The top six finishers score points (6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1) and the driver who sets the fastest lap scores one point.

In a change of regulations in 2008, the point for fastest lap in both Race 1 and Race 2 will only be awarded to a driver who finishes in the top 10, and who has started the race from the grid.