GP2 Series - F1 Feeder Championship and Single-Seater Development Series (2005–2016)

History and succession

Organised from 2005, GP2 operated alongside the Formula One season for most of its life, staging rounds as support events on Grand Prix weekends. In 2010 a lower-level series, the GP3 Series, was introduced to offer an earlier rung on the single-seater ladder. After more than a decade of competition, the championship was restructured and renamed for the 2017 season and is now continued under the FIA Formula 2 Championship name.

Sporting and technical structure

GP2 used a single-make approach: all teams raced with the same chassis, engines and tyres to reduce costs and put greater emphasis on driver ability. Suppliers changed over time, but manufacturers such as Dallara (chassis) and Mecachrome (engines) were principal contributors during the series' run. Race weekends normally featured two races — a longer feature event with a mandatory pit stop and a shorter sprint race with a partially reversed grid to encourage overtaking and varied results.

Purpose and legacy

• Provide a training ground for drivers aiming for Formula One.
• Keep technical costs down through standardised equipment.
• Support Formula One events, giving drivers exposure at Grand Prix meetings.

Across its seasons, GP2 served as a path for many competitors who later reached Formula One or other top-level categories. Its format and place on the racing ladder influenced the structure of junior single-seater championships that followed.

For context, GP2 is part of the broader family of open wheel motorsport, which features cars with exposed wheels and a strong emphasis on aerodynamic and mechanical balance.