Home Formula 2 Drivers named for vacant GP2 seats for first 2015 test

Drivers named for vacant GP2 seats for first 2015 test

by Peter Allen
Daniel De Jong

Photo: Glenn Dunbar/GP2 Series Media Service

The GP2 Series has released the entry list for the opening pre-season test in Abu Dhabi next week, with drivers named to occupy the vacant seats that had remained for the three days of running from Monday to Wednesday.

2013 Auto GP champion Vittorio Ghirelli will test with MP Motorsport alongside Daniel De Jong, with the series confirming that the Dutchman will continue with the team owned by his father Henk for a third season.

Ghirelli’s past GP2 experience consists of the final five rounds of the 2013 campaign with Lazarus, while last year he contested Indy Lights and Auto GP events.

Hilmer Motorsport will test Sergio Canamasas and Axcil Jefferies. The former has made 51 GP2 starts since 2012 with the Lazarus, Caterham and Trident teams, while the latter took part in last year’s season opener in Bahrain with Trident before Canamasas took over his seat.

Ex-Formula Renault 3.5 racer Zoel Amberg will test with Lazarus alongside their signed driver Nathanael Berthon, having previously run with Trident at Yas Marina last November.

As announced on Saturday by the team, Richie Stanaway will drive Status Grand Prix’s second car during the test.

2015 GP2 Series line-up so far
Teams Drivers
DAMS Pierre Gasly Alex Lynn
Carlin Julian Leal Marco Sorensen
ART Grand Prix Stoffel Vandoorne Nobuharu Matsushita
Racing Engineering Jordan King Alexander Rossi
Russian Time ?Mitch Evans Artem Markelov
Trident Raffaele Marciello Rene Binder
Campos Racing Arthur Pic Rio Haryanto
MP Motorsport ?Daniel De Jong Vittorio Ghirelli*
Rapax Sergey Sirotkin Robert Visoiu
Arden International Norman Nato Andre Negrao
Status Grand Prix Marlon Stockinger ?Richie Stanaway*
Hilmer Motorsport ?Sergio Canamasas* ?Axcil Jefferies*
Lazarus Nathanael Berthon ?Zoel Amberg*

* Testing at Yas Marina, not confirmed to race