Asian Motor Sports

Bernie Ecclestone has claimed that the GP2 Series needs to be introduced to Asia in the next year or so, in order top boost the number of drivers from the region capable of making the grade in Formula One.

Asked by Malaysia’s New Straits Times newspaper why, despite the growing number of F1 races being staged in Asia and the Middle East, there were so few drivers from the area actually involved in the top flight, Ecclestone admitted that the ladder system did not exist to promote talent in the right direction.

“Think of the number of drivers who come from Europe to take part in all the different races - it’s easier to pick someone,” he said, “You can’t just pick anyone out of a saloon car. We have to run an open world championship in Asia at a higher level, and then, for sure, we’re going to find more drivers.”

Ignoring the introduction of Formula Renault V6 Asia last season, a move which brought Karun Chandhok back to the attention of GP2 team owners, Ecclestone insisted that he would do all he could to take F1’s chief feeder series to the region. His comments, however, suggested that it would not necessarily be the main championship that visits.

“There’s a formula called GP2, which is a step down from F1, and which people generally graduate from,” he explained, noting the ride of Nico Rosberg, Heikki Kovalainen, Scott Speed and Lewis Hamilton since GP2’s arrival, “I want to make sure we bring that series to Asia in the winter, and hopefully we get to find a few drivers through the exposure.”

Malaysia’s Fairuz Fauzy and India’s Narain Karthikeyan are both currently linked to teams in Formula One, but only in testing roles, and Fauzy was denied the chance to run in front of his home crowd this weekend when Spyker opted to give its two race drivers the chance of greater track time in its revised car.

Asia, Asian Motor Sports, AF3, Asian formula 3, Auto Racing, Sports, Motorsports, Bernie Ecclestone