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The 2009-10 GP2 Asis Series season gets underway on Saturday at the stunning new Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, in support of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. We look ahead to the new season.

Calendar

This season's calendar has a strange look about it. After getting underway this weekend at Yas Marina, there is a break in the schedule until next February, when the teams return to the new circuit. Shortly after that there will be two weekends in Bahrain. There are no visits to China or Malaysia this season.

October 31/November 1 - Yas Marina (UAE)
February 5/6 - Yas Marinia (UAE)
February 26/27 - Bahrain
March 13/14 - Bahrain

Teams and drivers

Durango are missing from the Asia series after their absence from the final rounds of the main 2009 season.

DAMS

1. Christian Vietoris -
The 20 year-old German arrives in the Middle East off the back of two seasons in F3 Euroseries with Mucke Motorsport, finishing runner-up this year. He will hope to follow in the footsteps of fellow German Nico Hulkenberg who won the main series in 2009.

2. Edoardo Piscopo - Italian driver Piscopo needs a good campaign in GP2 Asia. He will miss the final round of the Formula 2 season this weekend, where he currently stands 11th. He finished as runner-up in the Italian F3 Championship in 2008.

Piquet GP

3. Vladimir Arabadzhiev - The Bulgarian has shown promise in Formula Master over the last two years and impressed the Chevrolet WTCC team with a test earlier in the month. At 25, one of the older drivers in the field.

4. Daniel Zampieri - The new Italian F3 champion, 19, is unlikely to be at the front this season but will be looking to gain experience ahead of a European campaign in 2010.

Barwa Addax Team

5. Max Chilton - After making his F3 debut at 15 with no prior single-seater experience, it took Chilton until the end of his third season to finally get a win after 6 pole positions. Another one looking for experience.

6. Luiz Razia - Took a main series GP2 win for Coloni at Monza, and won a race for Arden in Asia last year. The Brazilian should fight for wins with a race-winning car, and could fight for the title, as one of only ten with GP2 experience.

ART Grand Prix

7. Marcus Ericsson
- Japanese F3 champion will share car with Euroseries champion Jules Bianchi. Looking to impress the other teams for a main series drive in 2010.

8. Sam Bird - The Brit gets his chance after three years at Formula 3 level, and gets it with a top team in ART. Really needs to impress after dissapointing Euroseries campaign.

Arden International

11. Charles Pic
-Finished third in World Series by Renault and still just 19 years of age. Could fight for race wins straight away, but will just be looking for preparation ahead of 2010.

12. Rodolfo Gonzalez - After a poor F3 Euroseries campaign with Carlin, having shown promise in British F3, he raced in Euroseries 3000 in 2009, although finished down in fifth, well off the less experienced lead pack.

Super Nova Racing

14. James Jakes
 - Did not race at all during the main 2009 season, but returns to Super Nova after their partnership in 2008-09. Could fight for regular podiums this year after scoring one in Malaysia last term, but lacking match practice.

15. Josef Kral - 19 year-old Czech finished third in second season of Formula Master in 2009. He will be looking to repeat the promise he showed in Formula BMW UK in 2007.

iSport International

16. Oliver Turvey
- Beat teammate and F1 driver Jaime Alguersuari in World Series by Renault standings, so will be looking to fight for victories in Asia. He will remain with the team for 2010.

17. Davide Valsecchi - The Italian's third GP2 Asia season, he only scored points in three races in the main series in 2009. He has only been confirmed by the team for Abu Dhabi.

Trident Racing

18. Johnny Cecotto Jr - Has GP2 experience after 3 races for DPR at the end of 2009. Failed to score points in F3 Euroseries in 2009, despite coming third in the German series in 2008.

19. Plamen Kralev - 36 year-old Bulgarian only has experience in GT racing.

MalaysiaQi-Meritus.com

20. Luca Filippi - Appears to have struggled in four years of GP2, except his 2007 and 2009 seasons with Super Nova. Raced for Meritus in Asia 2008. He was fastest in both of last weeks tests at Yas Marina.

21. Diego Nunes - Finished eighth in Asia for Piquet last season, with two victories. Should fight for wins again if Meritus can provide him with the car to do so.

Ocean Racing Technology

22. Alexander Rossi - Young American arrives from Formula Master after finishing as top rookie in his first season in Europe. Another just be looking for experience in high powered cars. A possible USF1 driver for the future?

23. Fabio Leimer - Destroyed Formula Master opposition in 2009. It will be interesting to see how well the Suiss can make the transition to GP2. Fomer Formula Master champion Jerome d'Ambrosio was runner-up last year.

Scuderia Coloni

24. Roldan Rodriguez - Spainiard finished third for Piquet in Asia last season, so should fight for the title this year. He is yet to win in the main series after three years of average performances.

25. Will Bratt - Oxford graduate Bratt won his drive with the team for winning the Euroseries 3000 organised by Coloni. An impressive performance could land him a main series drive with the team.

DPR

26. Michael Herck - Father Andre is now the team owner. The Belgian-Romainian is yet to score a point in 2 full seasons of GP2 main and Asia series racing. Finished fifth in a WSR race earlier in 2009.

27. Giacomo Ricci - 2006 Euroseries 3000 champion returns to DPR. He started the 2008 main season with the team, and then joined them during the 2008-09 Asia season, and started  the 2009 main season with them before being dropped again. Also yet to score a point, but should beat Kralev.



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