Mid-season  is  upon  us  and  Great-Britain  welcomes  the  fifth  round  of  the  2008  GP2  Series Championship.  Two  weeks  ago,  in  Magny-Cours,  Giorgio  Pantano  snatched  a  second  win  that allowed  him  to  retake  the  lead  and  leave  his rivals behind  - the closest one being Bruno Senna.

The  Brazilian,  who  started  on  pole  in  last  feature  race,  salvaged  just  a  few  points  in  France, enough  however  to  stay  second  in  the  drivers’  standing  and  to  remain  a  serious  title  candidate. Meanwhile,  following  his  strong  win  in  last  sprint  race,  Sébastien  Buemi  entered  the  Top  3, standing one point ahead of Romain Grosjean and Alvaro Parente, both stuck with 19 points after a challenging French Round.

Concerning  the  Team  Championship,  the  title  is  still  up  for  grabs:  if  iSport  International  are  still leading with 41 points, Racing Engineering stand dangerously close with 38 points, as are Piquet Sports with 35 points. It’s in this suspenseful context that the GP2 Series circus set up camp in the home of British motorsport. British-born  Mike  Conway,  currently  10th  in  the  drivers’  championship,  is  already  an  old-hand around the Silverstone circuit: “The first sector is great fun to drive. From that start finish straight you are in 5th gear into the corner, a tiny stab on the brake, then you just attack, attack all the way, but being careful not to step on to the run-off area, which can pull you off – it’s really easy to get caught  out. 

Then  you’re  into  the  Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel  complex  which  again  is  really  fast  – you have to stay smooth through there, keeping as much speed as you can and getting a fast exit onto  Hanger  straight.  Down  Hangar  into  Stowe,  a  fast  entry  then  down  two  gears,  and  along  a short straight before entering the quick left/right of Club. It’s easy to have difficulties with traction here,  so  the  line  is  critical.  A  dash  down  to  Abbey,  and  there’s  nothing  too  technical  here,  just remember to use a lot of curb and watch out for that tricky bump on the exit, especially in the wet. Bridge comes up quickly and is very fast, flat when it’s dry, which means Priory arrives even faster.

The apex is blind, so watch the entry. There are two slow lefthanders which need you to brake as late  as  possible  then  is  bang  on  the  power  again  all  the  way  around  Woodcote  and  onto  the straight, time it all properly and you hit 6th gear before passing the start/finish line…then you get to do it all again!”

Schedule Friday 4h June 11.55 – 12.25

Practice 16.00 – 16.30

Qualifying Saturday 5th June 15.00

Race 1 Sunday 6th June 09.30 Race 2