Caterham Racing (GP2 team)

This article is about the GP2 Series racing team. For the Formula One team, see Caterham F1 Team.

Malaysia Caterham Racing
Founded2010 (as Team AirAsia)
Folded2014
Team principal(s)Mia Sharizman
Former seriesGP2 Asia Series
GP2 Series
Noted driversUnited States Alexander Rossi
Italy Davide Valsecchi
Netherlands Giedo van der Garde

Caterham Racing, formerly EQ8 Caterham Racing and Caterham Team AirAsia was a motor racing team competing in the GP2 Series and GP2 Asia Series. It was created by Tony Fernandes, who was also responsible for the revival of the Lotus name in Formula 1 in 2010 with the creation of the Lotus Racing team. Team AirAsia was officially accepted to the GP2 Series grid on 21 September 2010, along with fellow debutants Carlin Motorsport, filling the gap left by the departures of Durango and DPR. The team made their debut at the first round of the 2010–11 GP2 Asia Series.

In addition to being owned by the Caterham Group that owned Caterham F1 Team, Caterham Racing shared deep technical links with its Formula One parent team. The GP2 operation was embedded within the Formula One operation and base, and the two teams shared the same technical staff. Caterham Racing's (then Team Air Asia) drivers also served as Caterham F1 Team's (then called Team Lotus) test and reserve drivers in the 2011 Formula One season.[1][2]

The outfit was originally called Team AirAsia. The Caterham designation was added to the official name in June 2011, following Fernandes' purchase of the company. For the 2012 season the team was again renamed as Caterham Racing to coincide with the renaming of the Formula 1 outfit.

In October 2014 GP3 Series team Status Grand Prix acquired the team from Tony Fernandes.[3] The team still operated under the Caterham name for the remainder of the 2014 season and starting from 2015 the team became known as Status Grand Prix.

  1. ^ Noble, Jonathan (18 October 2010). "Interview with Mike Gascoyne". Autosport. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  2. ^ Noble, Jonathan; Elizalde, Pablo (18 October 2010). "Lotus: GP2 team a boost for F1 squad". Autosport. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  3. ^ "Status Grand Prix takeover Caterham Racing and joins GP2 Series". GP2 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2014.