The 2012 Auto GP World Series was the third year of the Auto GP series, and the fourteenth season of the former Euroseries 3000. The championship began on 11 March at Monza in Italy and finished on 23 September at Sonoma in the United States, after seven double-header rounds.

Each meeting's sprint race now lasts for a longer duration – a minimum of 90 km (55.9 mi), up from 70 km (43.5 mi) – while also introducing a mandatory pit-stop to the race.[1] The series also introduced an overboost system that has already been used in the FIA Formula Two Championship.[2] The points system for the second race was also amended.[3]

Adrian Quaife-Hobbs won the opening race of the season at Monza after qualifying on pole position by 0.04 seconds.[4] Pål Varhaug finished in second place and returnee Daniël de Jong attained his maiden podium in third.[5] The reverse-grid second race was won by Varhaug, who left the meeting tied for the championship lead with Quaife-Hobbs.[6] Three weeks later at Valencia, Quaife-Hobbs claimed pole again, but was unable to convert pole into another win, losing to Sergey Sirotkin, who became the youngest Auto GP winner,[7] while Varhaug completed the podium. Quaife-Hobbs and Sirotkin continued their battle into the sprint race until an error during Sirotkin's pit-stop ended the battle early. Sirotkin recovered to finish the race in third place behind Quaife-Hobbs – who extended his championship lead with the race win – and Facu Regalia, who scored his first podium.[8]

Two weeks later, the series' first non-European round was held in Morocco, where Sirotkin claimed his first pole position.[9] He made a poor getaway, after being distracted by a marshal at the start.[10] he lost many positions with Varhaug taking the lead. Varhaug was chased by Italian Formula Three champion Sergio Campana, leading until the pit-stop phase. Varhaug stalled in pit lane, losing positions to both Campana and Quaife-Hobbs, with Campana eventually taking his first series win, and the first for Team MLR71, after a close battle with Quaife-Hobbs.[11] Sirotkin took the lead at the start of the second race, but lost time after his pit-stop, allowing Manor MP Motorsport's Chris van der Drift through to take his first win in the series ahead of Sirotkin. Varhaug, Quaife-Hobbs and Giacomo Ricci battled over the final podium position with Varhaug taking the position on-the-road before receiving a 25-second time penalty post-race for cutting a chicane. Ricci was promoted into third place ahead of Quaife-Hobbs, while Varhaug dropped to seventh and lost ground in the championship, falling behind Sirotkin, who moved into second.[12]

Teams and drivers

TeamNo.DriverRounds
Campos Racing[13]1Facu Regalia[14]1–5
Pippa Mann[15]7
2Giuseppe Cipriani[13]All
3Max Snegirev[13]All
Team MLR71[16]5Sergio Campana[17]1–5
Giacomo Ricci[18]7
71Michele La Rosa[17]All
Virtuosi UK[19]6Matteo Beretta[17]1
Sten Pentus[20]2
Francesco Dracone[21]3–7
7Pål Varhaug[22]All
Zele Racing[23]8Giacomo Ricci[17]1, 3
Matteo Beretta[24]2
Sten Pentus[25]4–5
Sergio Campana[26]7
9Peter Milavec[24]2
Juan Carlos Sistos[27]5
Antônio Pizzonia[26]7
Super Nova International10Adrian Quaife-Hobbs[17]All
11Victor Guerin[28]1–5
Euronova Racing[29]12Sergey Sirotkin[30]All
14Antonio Spavone[17]1–5
Sergio Campana6
Kotaro Sakurai[31]7
Ombra Racing23Adderly Fong[17]1, 4
Yann Cunha[32]2–3
Antônio Pizzonia[33]6
Antonio Spavone[34]7
45Giancarlo Serenelli[35]1–5, 7
Rafael Suzuki6
Manor MP Motorsport[36]32Daniël de Jong[36]All
33Chris van der Drift[17]1–6

Race calendar and results

A seven-round calendar was published on 23 December 2011,[37] with all rounds supporting World Touring Car Championship events. On 9 March 2012, it was announced that the Portuguese round moved from Estoril to Portimão.[38]

RoundCircuit/LocationDatePole positionFastest lapWinning driverWinning teamSupporting
1R1Monza Circuit10 MarchAdrian Quaife-HobbsSergey SirotkinAdrian Quaife-HobbsSuper Nova InternationalFIA WTCC Race of Italy
R211 MarchSergey SirotkinPål VarhaugVirtuosi UK
2R1Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Cheste31 MarchAdrian Quaife-HobbsSergey SirotkinSergey SirotkinEuronova RacingFIA WTCC Race of Spain
R21 AprilSergey SirotkinAdrian Quaife-HobbsSuper Nova International
3R1Marrakech Street Circuit14 AprilSergey SirotkinSergio CampanaSergio CampanaTeam MLR71FIA WTCC Race of Morocco
R215 AprilSergey SirotkinChris van der DriftManor MP Motorsport
4R1Hungaroring5 MayAdrian Quaife-HobbsAdrian Quaife-HobbsAdrian Quaife-HobbsSuper Nova InternationalFIA WTCC Race of Hungary
R26 MayAdrian Quaife-HobbsPål VarhaugVirtuosi UK
5R1Autódromo Internacional do Algarve2 JuneAdrian Quaife-HobbsAdrian Quaife-HobbsAdrian Quaife-HobbsSuper Nova InternationalFIA WTCC Race of Portugal
R23 JuneAdrian Quaife-HobbsAdrian Quaife-HobbsSuper Nova International
6R1Autódromo Internacional de Curitiba21 JulyAdrian Quaife-HobbsDaniël de JongAntônio PizzoniaOmbra RacingFIA WTCC Race of Brazil
R222 JulyPål VarhaugAntônio PizzoniaOmbra Racing
7R1Sonoma Raceway22 SeptemberAdrian Quaife-HobbsDaniël de JongPål VarhaugVirtuosi UKFIA WTCC Race of the United States
R223 SeptemberDaniël de JongSergey SirotkinEuronova Racing

Championship standings

  • Points for both championships were awarded as follows:
Race
Position 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  10th 
Race One251815121086421
Race Two20151210864321

In addition:

  • One point will be awarded for Pole position for Race One.
  • One point will be awarded for fastest lap in each race.

Drivers' Championship

PosDriverMNZ
VAL
MAR
HUN
ALG
CUR
SON
Points
1Adrian Quaife-Hobbs1321241211612†Ret2221
2Pål Varhaug213837512Ret2515183
3Sergey Sirotkin144136213†3333431175
4Chris van der Drift526741758252127
5Daniël de Jong3Ret447Ret1112774326104
6Sergio Campana101359113Ret75411†84390
7Facu Regalia4972Ret103106568
8Victor Guerin151116†5Ret52Ret4Ret46
9Antônio Pizzonia11Ret12†45
10Antonio Spavone859118Ret881198441
11Giacomo Ricci61453511†40
12Giancarlo Serenelli9811121111491066Ret34
13Max Snegirev768613RetRet1112810†7Ret734
14Giuseppe Cipriani11101214Ret966RetRetRet10RetRet18
15Sten Pentus10109414†Ret14
16Francesco Dracone1081014131089Ret914
17Rafael Suzuki7612
18Yann Cunha13Ret968
19Kotaro Sakurai7Ret6
20Pippa Mann985
21Adderly Fong137Ret134
22Michele La Rosa12121415121212RetDNS1191110104
23Juan Carlos Sistos9Ret2
24Matteo BerettaDNS1517†130
25Peter Milavec15160
PosDriverMNZ
VAL
MAR
HUN
ALG
CUR
SON
Points
Bold – Pole for Race One
Italics – Fastest Lap

Under-21 Trophy

PosDriverMNZ
VAL
MAR
HUN
ALG
CUR
SON
Points
1Adrian Quaife-Hobbs1321241211612†Ret2250
2Sergey Sirotkin144136213†3333431216
3Pål Varhaug213837512Ret2515208
4Daniël de Jong3Ret447Ret1112774326137
5Facu Regalia4972Ret103106596
6Antonio Spavone859118Ret881188496
7Victor Guerin151116†5Ret52Ret4Ret66
8Yann Cunha13Ret9624
10Kotaro Sakurai7Ret12
9Matteo BerettaDNS1517†139
10Juan Carlos Sistos9Ret6
PosDriverMNZ
VAL
MAR
HUN
ALG
CUR
SON
Points

Teams' Championship

PosTeamMNZ
VAL
MAR
HUN
ALG
CUR
SON
Points
1Super Nova International1321241211612†Ret2267
151116†5Ret52Ret4Ret
2Manor MP Motorsport32444175724226231
5Ret677Ret11128753
3Euronova Racing84136283333431219
1459118Ret13†811911†87Ret
4Virtuosi UK213837512102515198
DNS151010108101413Ret89Ret9
5Campos Racing4672139366510†797124
7986Ret10610128Ret10Ret8
6Ombra Racing97111296491061164117
13813Ret1111Ret13768Ret
7Team MLR711012591121275491151077
121314151213RetRetDNS111011†
8Zele Racing614151353949Ret4368
17†1614†RetRet12†
PosTeamMNZ
VAL
MAR
HUN
ALG
CUR
SON
Points
Bold – Pole for Race One
Italics – Fastest Lap

References

  1. ^ "Longer distance and pit-stop for Race 2 in 2012". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organization. 25 November 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  2. ^ "Auto GP introduces Overboost for 2012". Auto GP. Auto GP Organization. 2 December 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  3. ^ "More points awarded for Race 2". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organisation. 29 February 2012. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  4. ^ "Quaife-Hobbs takes first World Series pole". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organisation. 9 March 2012. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  5. ^ "Race 1: Quaife-Hobbs from flag to flag". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organisation. 10 March 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  6. ^ "Varhaug clinches Race 2 win in Monza". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organisation. 11 March 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  7. ^ "Sirotkin clinches Race 1 win in Valencia". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organisation. 31 March 2012. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  8. ^ "Quaife-Hobbs storms to Valencia Race 2 win". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organisation. 1 April 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  9. ^ "Sirotkin takes Marrakech pole". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organisation. 13 April 2012. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  10. ^ Mills, Peter (14 April 2012). "Sirotkin says start board confusion to blame for delayed getaway in race one". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 16 April 2012. I saw there was a marshal carrying a five-second board to the side of the grid, and I was waiting for him to raise it.
  11. ^ "Campana beats Quaife-Hobbs to Race 1 win". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organisation. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  12. ^ "Van der Drift clinches Race 2 win". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organisation. 15 April 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  13. ^ "Facu Regalia, Max Snegirev y Giuseppe Cipriani son los pilotos Campos Racing en el Campeonato de AUTOGP 2012" [Facu Regalia, Max Snegirev and Giuseppe Cipriani are the Campos Racing pilots for 2012 AUTOGP Championship] (in Spanish). Campos Racing. Campos Racing Team. 22 February 2012. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  14. ^ "Regalia joins the Auto GP grid with Campos". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organization. 29 December 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  15. ^ "Pippa Mann joins Campos Racing in Sonoma". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organisation. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  16. ^ "Team MLR71 is the first new entry for 2012". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organization. 2 November 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  17. ^ "16 drivers on the Auto GP World Series grid". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organization. 8 March 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  18. ^ "Ricci on the grid with MLR71 in Sonoma". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organisation. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  19. ^ "New British team joins Auto GP grid for 2012 season". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  20. ^ "Pentus joins the Series with Virtuosi UK". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organization. 27 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  21. ^ Mills, Peter (13 April 2012). "Sergio Campana leads Marrakech Auto GP practice". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 13 April 2012. Norwegian Varhaug has a new team-mate at Virtuosi UK this weekend. Former Euro Series 3000 veteran and IndyCar starter Franceso Dracone replaces Formula Renault 3.5 race winner Sten Pentus.
  22. ^ Rubino, Jacopo (5 March 2012). "Pal Varhaug nel primo round di Monza con il team Virtuosi UK" [Pal Varhaug in first round at Monza for team Virtuosi UK] (in Italian). stopandgo.tv. Stop&Go. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  23. ^ "Zele Racing targets Auto GP commitment". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organization. 21 January 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  24. ^ "Matteo Beretta and Peter Milavec to race with Zele-Racing at Valencia". zele-racing.com. Zele Racing. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  25. ^ "Fong and Pentus back on the grid". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organization. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  26. ^ "Pizzonia and Campana on the grid in Sonoma". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organization. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  27. ^ "Sistos joins Zele Racing in Portimão". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organization. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  28. ^ Rubino, Jacopo (5 March 2012). "Victor Guerin "agguanta" il sedile della Super Nova in Auto GP" [Victor Guerin grabs the Super Nova's seat in Auto GP] (in Italian). stopandgo.tv. Stop&Go. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  29. ^ "Euronova Racing returns to Auto GP". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organization. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  30. ^ "Sirotkin stays with Euronova for double programm". euronova-racing.com. Euronova Racing. 19 February 2012. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  31. ^ "Sakurai in Sonoma with Euronova Racing". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organisation. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
  32. ^ "Cunha in Valencia with Ombra Racing". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organization. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  33. ^ "Pizzonia joins Ombra Racing in Curitiba". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organization. 18 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2012.
  34. ^ "Spavone back in the Series with Ombra Racing". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organisation. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  35. ^ "Serenelli joins Auto GP with Ombra Racing". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organization. 13 January 2011. Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  36. ^ "MP team and Daniel de Jong commit to full Auto GP campaign in 2012". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. 27 January 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  37. ^ "Dates & Events 2012". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organization. 23 December 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
  38. ^ "Portimão replaces the Estoril round". Auto GP World Series. Auto GP Organisation. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2012.