2012 Auto GP Season Discussion

[skells22]

I think this is her 1st race back in the USA after last year tragic crash so give her time.

[W.A Trichlorostyrene]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Magnusson

Saw it, seen worse. Pizzonia's first corner was a big accident from a pretty minor mistake.

Yep. The track is awfully dusty on the outside here. If you just go out of the racing line it's pretty much game over. Cipriani and Dudukalo(WTCC) both made very similar mistakes later in the afternoon, fortunately with less damage in the end.

But anyway, the first few corners are always very tricky at the start. Even in IndyCar, with the rolling starts, lap 1 pile-ups are quite common.

[Ostrogothicus]

What's next for someone like Sirotkin?
He's obviously got talent, so doesn he jump up a level or stay and make sure he wins the title next year?

[bella]

am i imagining it or do they have a new car next year? in which case, a year's experience in the current cars won't be much use and he may as well go and do something else. if it's the same car, going for the title seems like a smart move.

[Ostrogothicus]

Yes they do have a new car, I'd forgotten about that.
It'll test in December apparently http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/102680
It is based on the current car, how much is carried over and how similar it is I'm not sure.

[bella]

difficult one... i guess it depends what money they have available and whether they'd rather put him through a recognised set of series to prove his talent to the f1 bosses. at sirotkins age in particular it doesn't really matter does it? i guess it'd make sense to try and stay, as long as the opposition is decent.

[p-matt]

He's Lukoil backed, isn't he? I'd guess that he'll be in F2 next year. And he really ought to win a championship like that.

[Go_For_Pole]

well he did Auto GP plus Italian F3 this year, combine those in cost and you are not far off a WSR budget

[Peat]

Wow. Pippa Mann was really tugging there. 5+ secs a lap slower than the leaders, every lap looked an adventure. Her neck is also looking very weak.

Come on Pippa. Chop chop!

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Go_For_Pole

well he did Auto GP plus Italian F3 this year, combine those in cost and you are not far off a WSR budget

Yeah if anything he would surely be headed there than F2. The Auto Gp cars are more poweful that the F2's aren't they so it would be like taking a step back?

[racecontrol]

yes, I believe F2 would be a step back... I don't agree in the choice of making both F3 and AutoGP... sometimes he also raced both in the same week-end I think.. I believe he is a strong driver and could have fight for the title in AutoGP

[ivanalesi]

He has had 2.5 years of racing so far, but I guess he will want to be in FR3.5. I'm not sure how much his pace in AutoGP means, in F3 he wasn't as impressive as the top 3 there. I think a move into GP3 is better for him. Titles in AutoGP are hard to be judged, you see Ceccon was equally impressive and in GP3 he wasn't battling for the title. FR3.5 might be a bit too early for him, especially as he's still a teen

[W.A Trichlorostyrene]

Originally Posted by skells22

I think this is her 1st race back in the USA after last year tragic crash so give her time.

In fact, this was her very first time in a racing car, since last year.

The original plan for 2012 was to do more IndyCar outings, but she never managed to gather the budget required, although she said she came close a few times.