GP2 news

Hulkenberg ready for new season

Nico Hulkenberg is looking forward to the 2009 season as he begins his first year in the GP2 main series. As Formula 1 test driver for the Williams team, the 21-year-old German is one of the most promising talents on this year's GP2 grid. The ART Grand Prix driver talked to GPUpdate.net in Barcelona on Tuesday.

Hulkenberg took part at two meetings of the GP2 Asia series over the winter, claiming pole position in Bahrain as well as another pole and race victory in Qatar. The team has elected to run Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado in the car for the final two races: "It's a pity I'm not driving," Hulkenberg commented, "but it was a deal made a long time ago with the team and Pastor, so he will drive. I've asked the team if they could make a switch so I could drive but it wasn't possible, and I have to respect that."

Nico, who raced in the Formula 3 Euroseries with ART in 2007 and 2008, knows the team well, and is confident that success is possible following Romain Grosjean's Asia Series title in 2008: "Last year we were pretty quick, but in the main series we've had some bad luck. The main series is even more competitive than GP2 Asia, and a fraction of a second can mean three places. I believe in this team and their philosophy; they work very hard and the car is doing very well at the moment so it should be good."

The Formula 1 testing ban means Nico will not drive the Williams FW31 during the season, but believes the team can have a positive championship: "The new car is good and isn't much different to drive compared to last year's. You can't really call me a 'test driver' anymore though, with the new rules. I'm glad I won't have to go to Melbourne, because you get very bored sitting there and doing nothing - that happened at Hockenheim last year and wasn't much fun.

Team boss Sir Frank Williams believes that the Brawn GP is currently ahead of the competition, but hopes his own team can be in contention with them. "Really hard to say," Hulkenberg added. "It is very unpredictable, but the top ten should be possible." The German looks in good stead this year, driving for the team which took Lewis Hamilton to GP2 success in 2006.

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• 23 Oct.
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