The 2008 GP2 Series season ended on a bitter note for experienced racers Andreas Zuber and Javier Villa after a clash in the Monza feature race ruined their chances of saving some face in what has been a tough year.

Both in their third season of GP2 racing, Zuber had the better season of the two driving for the rejuvenated Piquet Sports team, but while team-mate Pastor Maldonado just missed out on the runners-up spot, Zuber finished ninth for the second season in a row.

A difficult thing to accept given he started on the first four rows in all but one race this season, Zuber's season was compounded when he was taken out of the Monza feature race by Villa, who braked too late into the first corner chicane.

“One could really tear one's hair,” he said. “I had a good start and had already overtaken Petrov when Villa hit me from behind. He apologised immediately afterwards but the milk had already been spilt.”

Meanwhile, Villa was apologetic as he brought a dismal year to a close. The Spanish youngster, who won three races in 2007, scored just eight points in a season that many believed would see him challenge for the title.

"It was a complicated race because there was a lot of water on the track,” Villa, who was subsequently prevented from competing in the sprint race, said. “I couldn't see the car in front at the start of the race and hit Andreas. I am sorry for him and also for Vitaly, as they were affected by my mistake."