Dallara GP2/11

The Dallara GP2/11 was a racing car developed by Italian manufacturer Dallara for use in the GP2 Series, a feeder series for Formula One. The GP2/11 is the overall third generation of car used by the GP2 Series and first generation of car used by the FIA Formula 2 Championship, and was introduced at the Yas Marina round of the 2011 season,[2] replacing the Dallara GP2/08, which was also developed by Dallara. The GP2/11 was scheduled to be used until the end of the 2013 season, in keeping with the series' philosophy of upgrading its chassis every three years, but series organisers decided to keep it in competition for another three-year cycle in a bid to cut costs in the category. The GP2/11 was scheduled to be used until the end of the 2016 season before a next-generation car was introduced in 2017,[3] but this was delayed again until 2018.[4] As the GP2 Series and Formula 2 Championship are spec series, the GP2/11 was raced by every team and driver on the grid.

Dallara GP2/11
Nobuharu Matsushita driving a GP2/11 at the Monza Eni Circuit in 2017.
CategoryFIA Formula 2 (2017)
GP2 Series (2011–2016)
GP2 Asia Series (2011)
ConstructorDallara
Designer(s)Luca Pignacca
Andrea Toso
PredecessorDallara GP2/08
SuccessorDallara F2 2018
Technical specifications[1]
ChassisSandwich carbon/aluminium honeycomb monocoque
Suspension (front)Double steel wishbones, pushrod operated, twin dampers and torsion bars
Suspension (rear)Double steel wishbones, pushrod operated, twin dampers and spring
Length5,065 mm (199 in)
Width1,800 mm (71 in)
Height1,072 mm (42 in)
Wheelbase3,120 mm (123 in)
EngineMecachrome V8108 4.0 L (244 cu in) V8 90° naturally aspirated, rear-engined, longitudinally mounted
TransmissionHewland 6-speed + 1 reverse sequential semi-automatic
Power612 hp (456 kW) @ 10,000 rpm, 500 N⋅m (370 ft⋅lbf) torque
Weight688 kg (1,517 lb) including driver
FuelElf LMS 89.6 MON, 101.6 RON unleaded
LubricantsElf HTX 840 0W-40
BrakesHitco carbon brake discs with Brembo 6-piston calipers and pads
TyresPirelli P Zero (dry), Cinturato (wet)
O.Z. racing wheels
Competition history
Debut2011 Yas Marina GP2 Asia round
Last event2017 Yas Island Formula 2 round

Design

History

Dallara began development, design and construction of the GP2/11 chassis in late 2009. The first chassis was assembled in July 2010, with the first chassis completed on 9 September 2010. The Dallara GP2/11 chassis replaced the Dallara GP2/08 chassis in the 2011 season.[5]

The chassis was used throughout the rest of the GP2 Series from 2011 to 2016, and for the inaugural revived 2017 FIA Formula 2 Championship.

This chassis was generally not well received as previous chassis packages due to its appearance and the fact that overtaking was much harder compared to previous cars. To combat this, DRS was introduced in the 2015 season.

Another criticism of this car was that they favoured drivers who had experience at GP2/F2 level for multiple years. As a result of this, only once since the GP2/11 was introduced has a rookie won the GP2 / Formula 2 Drivers' Championship. No rookie managed to win the title, between 2011 and 2017.[6]

After the 2017 Abu Dhabi rounds and Abu Dhabi post-season testing of the FIA Formula 2 Championship, the chassis together with engines were permanently retired from competition and replaced with the Dallara F2 2018 chassis starting from the 2018 season.

Marco Ghiotto driving the GP2/11.

The GP2/11 still sees regular competition in the BOSS GP and MAXX Formula championships, also competing against its two GP2 predecessors as well.

Engine package

The engine still carried over the same 4.0 litre (244 cu in) naturally-aspirated V8 engine developed by Mecachrome but the exhaust systems were altered by merging two exits together on the rear side.

Tyres

Pirelli would become the preferred official tyre partner and supplier of GP2 Asia Series, GP2 Series and later FIA Formula 2 Championship from 2011 until 2017 seasons. The tyre sizes and layouts were the same as Formula 1 2011-2016 designs and thus kept the traditional 13-inch wheel rims.

References
  1. "The Car and Engine". fiaformula2.com. FIA Formula 2 Ltd. Archived from the original on 2017-04-27. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  2. Glendenning, Mark (5 July 2010). "Exclusive: First shot of new GP2 car". autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  3. "GP2 to keep current car to cut costs". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  4. "New GP2 car model delayed until 2018". readmotorsport.com. 4 July 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  5. autoblog.com. "Third-generation GP2 spec racer unveiled at Monza". autoblog.com. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  6. Botticelli, Daniele (23 April 2020). "List of GP2 champions".
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