2011 GP2 Series

For the Asian-based series, see 2011 GP2 Asia Series.

Romain Grosjean (DAMS) won the drivers' championship.

The 2011 GP2 Series season was the forty-fifth season of the second-tier of Formula One feeder championship and also seventh season under the GP2 Series moniker, the pan-European motor racing series for single specification open wheel GP2 cars. Thirteen teams competed over a nine event series that run from 7 May at Istanbul Park in Turkey to 11 September at Monza in Italy. The series again performed the role of a series for developing emerging young drivers, acting as the principal supporting motor racing series that fills in time between sessions of the nine World Championship Formula One Grands Prix that are held in Europe. The championship was won by reigning GP2 Asia champion Romain Grosjean at the penultimate round of the series. Luca Filippi, Jules Bianchi and Charles Pic were all divided just by two points in their battle for the second, third and fourth places respectively. Christian Vietoris, Davide Valsecchi, Stefano Coletti, Esteban Gutiérrez and Fabio Leimer was the other race winners.

Following a three-year cycle, the previous GP2 chassis was replaced by a brand new car, the GP2/11, built by Italian racing car manufacturer Dallara. The engine configuration remained the same until the end of the 2017 season, with the only modifications being to the exhaust systems.[1] The series changed tyre supplier from Bridgestone to Pirelli for 2011–13.[2] The 2011 season saw the addition of two new teams to the grid, Carlin and Team AirAsia.[3] Meanwhile, DPR was not selected to continue in the series.

On 22 November 2010 it was announced that Renault would no longer badge their Mecachrome GP2 Series engines, instead Mecachrome would run its own engine program from 2011 onwards.[4] All GP2 Series cars had a reverse gear for the first time in the series.

  1. ^ Glendenning, Mark (5 July 2010). "Exclusive: First shot of new GP2 car". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  2. ^ "GP2 Series with Pirelli in 2011-2013". GP2 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 24 June 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  3. ^ "GP2 Series announce teams for 2011-2013". GP2 Series. GP2 Motorsport Limited. 21 September 2010. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  4. ^ "Renault to Lose Mecachrome Engine Developer?". Retrieved 22 November 2010.