Private Tests – 4 days – Paul Ricard: the day-by-day report

After the conclusion of this third GP2 season a few weeks ago, seeing Glock win a well-deserved title at the wheel of Isport, the entire field had a date this week for 4 days of testing.

On the southern circuit of France, the Paul Ricard hosted 26 drivers during two test sessions per day. One in the morning and one in the afternoon, allowing the 13 teams to test many drivers and even alternate or offer testing opportunities to many unknowns.

Day 1

For this first day, it was Andreas Zuber who dominated. He is ahead of Maldonado and Filippi.

With 26 drivers present today, there were 3 French representatives in the persons of Nicolas Lapierre, Jerome d’Ambrosio, and Romain Grosjean. All three are in the top 10 of the best times of the day. Grosjean, winner of the F3 Euro-series, was testing with ART Grand Prix managed by Nicolas Todt. The three French drivers showed strong performances.

Day 2

For this second day at the circuit in the south of France, it was Filippi who dominated. Yesterday with DPR, today he was with ART Grand Prix, a single-seater that even allowed him to be the only one to go under the 1 minute 13 seconds mark both in the morning and afternoon.

The Italian leads Maldonado at Isport and Zuber at Campos Racing. There was only one French representative today. Grosjean and Lapierre are not scheduled for days 2 and 3. Jérôme d’Ambrosio was therefore tested by Arden, finishing only 11th but delivering encouraging performances.

Despite a few showers, the weather was much better than on the first day.

Day 3

Pastor Maldonado sets the best time of the day. The Venezuelan on Art ranks ahead of Zuber, who records the fastest time of the afternoon but the second best of the day.

Filippi, Conway, and Hanley also performed well with Minardi and Racing Engineering.

A woman had a test day today with Campos. Simona De Silvestro only ran in the morning but recorded the 22nd fastest time. Maybe enough to secure further tests in order to access the GP2 championship.

Day 4

Andreas Zuber is back on track and even sets the fastest time on this 4th and final day of testing. This time, he was with Super-Nova and ahead of Pastor Maldonado with Minardi Piquet Sport as well as Lucas Filippi also with Super-Nova.

Romain Grosjean, who made his return to testing today with Racing Engineering and set the 4th fastest time of the day, the third of the morning. The Frenchman made a strong impression during these two days of testing and has a good chance of securing a seat in the championship after his title in the F3 Euro Series.

Kazuki Nakajima was invited by Art to test the GP2 while Bruno Senna was invited by Isport. Both did not make it into the top 5.

It was also the last day of using the GP2/05 single-seater, which will be replaced in a few months by the GP2/2008, more efficient and reliable.

In the end, it is Art Grand Prix that seems to be the most competitive at the moment, despite missing out on the constructors’ title this season, which was won by Isport, as 3 out of the 4 test days were dominated by ART.

On the drivers’ side, Romain Grosjean, in two days, was able to show his skills and did the necessary work to hope to continue his 2008 career in GP2.