GP2 has managed to retain the services of Mecachrome and
Bridgestone for its new venture, and the tyre manufacturer has been busy making preparations for its desert outing.
In order to cover two official tests and the first round, approximately 1250 slick Potenza tyres and 630 wet versions were been shipped directly from Bridgestone’s Technical Centre in Kodaira City, Japan. Although there will be the usual limit on tyres for round one - with drivers only permitted to use only four sets of drys and two sets of wets over the weekend - a lot more were needed for testing.
“We are very excited about this week’s inaugural GP2 Asia races," director of motorsport tyre development Hirohide Hamashima, "We have chosen to use the same construction of GP2 tyre for the GP2 Asia Series that drew confidence and praise from those drivers competing in GP2 in Europe over recent seasons. The track surface is quite slippery at the moment, but we are confident our GP2 Asia slick tyre should not suffer too much from any potential wear or degradation issues brought about by the sandy conditions on track.
“The drivers can expect a tyre capable of long-lasting grip and which will allow a variety of race strategies. However, on this track, the compound may present the drivers with a challenge in qualifying as they will need to get their tyres up to temperature and up to optimum pressure as efficiently as possible. Nevertheless, those drivers who find themselves at the back of the grid in the feature race may well be able to jump up the field utilising a well timed pit-stop.
"Looking at recent weather reports though, it seems the drivers may also be using our wet weather tyres, which is quite surprising, but we are confident that the drivers will find that our innovative tread pattern, which features sloping tread blocks, will provide them with the performance they require, however much or however little rain falls.”
