Coloni is no more, at least in name, having been superseded by FMS International, the amalgamation of Paolo Coloni's eponymous
equipe and that of
F1 pilot
Giancarlo Fisichella, which steps up to GP2 after winning the Italian F3000 title. The champion of that series, Luca Filippi, remains with the team, having signed a two-year deal for 2006-07, where he will be joined by the next in a short line of Turkish hopefuls, Jason Tahinci.
Filippi showed well enough in winter testing at the end of 2005, having been granted a run by Coloni for winning the Italian title, but has yet to replicate that sort of form with the technically-adjusted Dallaras this side of the New Year. Likewise, Tahinci has struggled to move away from the foot of the times as he learns car, team and circuits, leading to Franck Montagny being drafted into help sort the set-up during the final pre-season test in Valencia. As a result, FMS could find itself little more than an outsider this season.
Hoping to move in the opposite direction, BCN Competicion now has lofty F1 aspirations to live up to, having been revealed as a potential 2008 candidate for the top flight. Before that, however, Enrique Scalabroni's team will seek to right the technical wrongs that left pre-season pacesetters Viso and Hiroki Yoshimoto floundering to start - let alone finish - races in 2005.
Yoshimoto remains on board for a second season with the team, and his speed remains without question, but it is his team-mate who will attract the majority of attention this season.
Timo Glock comes to GP2 as reigning Champ Car rookie of the year, his desire to return to F1 after a brief taste of the limelight with Jordan in 2004 outweighing the fact that the feeder series could be seen as a step back down the ladder. The German, who had opportunities to remain in the US, was initially linked with champions ART, before Premat's extended deal forced him to look elsewhere. If BCN gets its act together, Glock - and Yoshimoto - could be a threat.
