Yoshimoto confirmed at BCN.
Despite speculation that Enrique Scalabroni was planning a South American 'superteam' for this year's inaugural GP2 Series, Ernesto Viso will instead by paired with Japanese coming man Hiroki Yoshimoto.
Argentine Esteban Guerrieri had been the hot tip to join Venezuelan Viso, but had reportedly opted to step back to the F3 Euroseries with the planned Midland 'junior team', despite impressing on his late-notice debut F3000 campaign in 2004. This decision allowed Yoshimoto into the frame, and the sometime Nissan World Series has since filled the 21st vacancy on the grid.
Despite speculation that Enrique Scalabroni was planning a South American 'superteam' for this year's inaugural GP2 Series, Ernesto Viso will instead by paired with Japanese coming man Hiroki Yoshimoto.
Argentine Esteban Guerrieri had been the hot tip to join Venezuelan Viso, but had reportedly opted to step back to the F3 Euroseries with the planned Midland 'junior team', despite impressing on his late-notice debut F3000 campaign in 2004. This decision allowed Yoshimoto into the frame, and the sometime Nissan World Series has since filled the 21st vacancy on the grid.
Prior to coming to Europe, Yoshimoto proved to be a winner in the 2002 Japanese F3 series, and took a fifth position in the Macau Grand Prix a year later. Last season, he began by sharing a car - and winning - in the Japanese GT championship, before venturing to Europe to try his hand in Formula Nissan, where he contested end of season events with former champions Gabord.
"It is good to know the name of my team-mate at last," Viso admitted, "I ran with Yoshimoto a couple of times, at Macau and Korea, in 2003, and I know that he has a lot of experience from both F3 in Japan and the World Series. What is important, however, is that we can both work together to try and improve our performances this season.
"Here in Barcelona, everyone at BCN is working very hard, as we are currently adjust the details on our first chassis. The engine, the suspension - everything is new for everyone this year, so the teams that manage to hit upon the right set-up of the car will have a great advantage. It is good for us, then, that we have Mr Scalabroni, as he is a true specialist in this type of machine."
Just three seats now remain open in GP, with Coloni yet to reveal its second driver, and former F3000 champion Super Nova the identity of either of its pilots. Speculation has linked various names to the vacancies, with insiders predicting that at least one more 'big name' could join the series. Already, GP2 has attracted the cream of young talent from either F3 or parallel series such as Formula Nissan and FRV6, but also has ex-Minardi F1 pilot Gianmaria Bruni in its ranks. Another former grand prix competitor, Ralph Firman, has been touted as a candidate at Super Nova, but David Sears' team is playing its cards very close to its chest.
