This year the GP2 Series will once again include the participation of Repsol, through the Racing Engineering team, and with drivers Javier Villa and Giorgio Pantano…
This is the most ambitious line-up of Racing Engineering since it started in GP2; a team which has seen the unstoppable rise of Javier Villa, and which this year will include the experience of a new teammate, Giorgio Pantano. Both have shown themselves capable of making it to the top step on the podium in the pre-Formula One category -the GP2 Series-, a competition where equal opportunities and spectacular driving are guaranteed in every race. This will be Javier Villa’s third year defending the Repsol colours. This young driver made his debut in 2006 at the young age of 18, and last year, while still the youngest driver in the category, he took three victories and various podiums which gave him an excellent sixth position at the end of the championship. His talent and precocity were the big surprises last season, but now facing the 2008 season, his merits have earned him a place among the favourites. The new member of the team this season is Giorgio Pantano, who at the age of 29 is one of the most experienced drivers in the category. Third in last season’s final classification, he not only knows what it is to win races in GP2, but also has the experience of having disputed 14 Formula One races during the 2004 season. His experience will be a great asset for the team, which has another clear contender for the 2008 title. During the pre-season, both drivers showed that they were in excellent form, always achieving times that placed them among the fastest in the category. Villa had the first taste of the new single-seater developed in Paul Ricard, while Pantano was the fastest in the Barcelona training sessions, where Villa finished eighth. Back in Paul Ricard, where more training sessions were held on a shorter version of the circuit, Pantano was second and Villa finished fifth, after racing the fastest time in the morning training session.Javier Villa I think that this season can be very good for the team at Racing Engineering. I think the changes in the staff are positive, and I’m sure that they will help to improve development of the new GP2. Having the experience of a driver like Giorgio Pantano undoubtedly means that our team has good chances of winning the titleGiorgio Pantano I’m very happy to be part of Racing Engineering because it is a good chance to go for this year’s title. I’m sure that we can get good results this season.CALENDAR26.-27.04.08 Barcelona (Spain) 10.-11.05.08 Istambul (Turkey) 23.-24.05.08 MonteCarlo (Monaco) 31.05.-01.06.08 Valencia (Spain) 21.-22.06.08 Magny Cours (France) 05.-06.07.08 Silverstone (Great Britain) 19.-20.07.08 Hockenheim (Germany) 02.-03.08.08 Budapest (Hungary) 23.-24.08.08 Valencia (Spain) 06.-07.09.08 Spa (Belgium)
