18/02/12

AUTO GP BECOMES AUTO GP WORLD SERIES

Auto GP keeps growing steadily: entering its third year, the Championship has changed its name to become Auto GP World Series. Not a big change in terms of wording, but an important update that reflects the intercontinental evolution that the Series undertook for 2012, as the Organization confirmed the expansion plan announced last September. So Auto GP will race alongside WTCC for the whole season, with a calendar that for the first time will see the Series leave Europe to hold the last two rounds in Brazil (Curitiba) and USA (Sonoma).

The two American events will be the icing on the cake of a great calendar as the Auto GP World Series will be racing on very different kinds of circuits, ranging from tracks that are part of F1 history like Monza and Hungaroring to fascinating and challenging layouts as Valencia and Estoril, and even an exciting street track as Marrakech, that will host Round 3 of the Championship. In doing so Auto GP will touch Europe, Africa and America, becoming the only single-seater Series below F1 to hold its races in three different continents and creating something unique in the feeder series scenario.

Besides this, the Eurosport TV coverage is also confirmed, with HD live broadcast of both races: thanks to the great diffusion granted by Eurosport, Auto GP will reach an impressive 85 Countries around the world and huge TV crowds.

Below, the calendar of the 2012 Auto GP World Series:
10-11 March Monza (I)
31 March-1 April Valencia (E)
14-15 April Marrakech (MA)
5-6 May Budapest (H)
2-3 June Estoril (P)
21-22 July Curitiba (BR)
22-23 August Sonoma (USA)

Enzo Coloni:
"When in 2010 we decided to create Auto GP, we knew that 'step by step' had to be our leit motif, that the package we were offering to teams and drivers had to be improved season after season. I'm happy that we managed to do that also for 2012, turning Auto GP in the only top notch one-make Series that will race in three different continents. We are very proud of that, and that's why decided to change our name in Auto GP World Series. When I look at the feeder series scenario I see some championships that are using high-sounding names but then, in the real world, can't keep up to their promises. In our case, what the fans will read in our name is what we are, the only feeder series with a real intercontinental calendar. This was possible also thanks to the kind support of Eurosport and the WTCC, we are proud to be partners for the second consecutive year. I'm sure that the fans will appreciate the unique racing weekend we are providing together".