Issue 10 - GP2 Series

GP2 SERIES Spa//MonzaTop-classdrivers uniteFormula 1 drivers Nico Rosberg, Mark Webber,Heikki Kovalainen, Nelson Piquet and KazukiNakajima came together with the entire GP2 gridat Monza in support of the Gonzalo RodriguezMemorial Foundation (GRMF).The drivers were all present in the GP2 paddockon Thursday of the race weekend to sign apainting created by Canadian artist Bill Patterson.The piece was then auctioned on Sunday night,with the proceeds going towards a range of goodcauses that the GRMF supports in Uruguay.“It was great to have so many top F1 and GP2drivers here to lend their support,” explainedGP2 press officer Alexa Quintin. “The GonzaloRodriguez Foundation is a very worthy causeand today highlights the strong links betweenthe GP2 Series and F1 racing.”Navarro named aswinning e-reporterFrench student Guillaume Navarrowas crowned winner of the 2008Bridgestone e-reporter competitionat the GP2 season-end prize-givingceremony at Monza.This year marked the fifthanniversary of the competition,which gives a platform toaspiring motorsport journalists.Bridgestone celebrated theanniversary by inviting all previouse-reporter finalists to Monza.A total of 31 graduates werepresent in Italy to watch Navarrocollect his award.“Being the winner of the 2008Bridgestone e-reporter contestgives me a great sense ofachievement,” explained the 23-year-old Navarro.“In the same way GP2 isFormula 1’s strongest feederseries, the Bridgestone e-reportercompetition represents a uniquechance for young, aspiringmotorsport journalists to maketheir way to the paddock.”Navarro was chosen from ninefinalists based on his written workand interview technique.“It is a great honour to crown yetanother talented Bridgestone e-reporter,” said Franco Annunziato,director of Bridgestone’s Europeantechnical centre.“As we celebrate five years ofthe competition this year, we lookforward to the future by continuingour commitment to education andsupporting young talents.”Click here for more informationGP2 Series awardwinners 2008Karun Chandhok won the 2008 bestdriving style award at the GP2 Series2008 prize-giving. The title was decidedby a public vote through the GP2 website(www.gp2series.com) and was part of theseries’ end-of-season roll of honour, whichrecognises a number of driver and teamachievements across the season.Other winners included iSport’s BrunoSenna, who was named most improveddriver, ART’s Romain Grosjean, whopicked up the best rookie title and RacingEngineering’s Giorgio Pantano whose passon Grosjean in the Silverstone feature racewon best overtking manoeuvre. For theteams, Piquet Sports won best race strategy,and iSport best engineered team.From theGP2SERIES.COMBlogIt was not long afterwards thatwe found out about Giorgio’sexclusion from the event, and thepaddock was in uproar. Exceptfor the man himself, who had leftthe circuit for the casino in Spa insearch of a change in his luck, andZuber, who had lost a hard foughtpodium because of illegal repairsto his nosecone carried out by theteam, handing third to Maldonado.It’s hard to know what he wasmore upset about: the loss of thepodium, or the recipient.The next morning Zuber wasstill upset, playing the martyrcard to anyone who would listen:“Look, there’s only 25 guys in thisrace, but they’ve put me 26th onthe grid!” he laughed when theofficial grid was released, and sureenough he was right.See blog.gp2series.caradisiac.com04 2008 GP2 Series Spa//Monza