Team Air Asia
Encyclopedia
Caterham Team AirAsia is a motor racing team competing in the GP2 Series
and GP2 Asia Series
. It was created by Tony Fernandes
, who was also responsible for the revival of the Lotus name in Formula 1 in 2010
with the creation of the Lotus Racing team. Team AirAsia was officially accepted to the GP2 Series grid on September 21, 2010, along with fellow debutants Carlin Motorsport
, filling the gap left by the departures of Durango
and DPR
. The team made their debut at the first round of the 2010-11 GP2 Asia Series.
In addition to being owned by the same company that owns Team Lotus, Team AirAsia shares deeper technical links with its Formula One
parent team. The GP2 operation is embedded within the Formula One operation and base, and the two teams share the same technical staff. Team AirAsia's drivers also serve as Team Lotus' test and reserve drivers for the 2011 Formula One season
.
The outfit was originally called Team AirAsia. The Caterham
designation was added to the official name in June 2011, following Fernandes' purchase of the company.
and Davide Valsecchi
– drivers for Lotus' sister outfit Team AirAsia in the GP2 Series
– would join the team as third driver and test driver respectively, and will take part in a number of Friday practice sessions during the season. Ricardo Teixeira
also joined as a second test driver.
On 13 July 2011, Team announcement GP2 car color livery change from red and white to green and yellow similar color with Team Lotus.
GP2 Series
The GP2 Series, GP2 for short, is a form of open wheel motor racing introduced in 2005 following the discontinuation of the long-term Formula One feeder series, Formula 3000. The format was conceived by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, while Ecclestone also has the rights to the name GP1...
and GP2 Asia Series
GP2 Asia Series
The GP2 Asia Series is a form of open wheel motor racing based on the GP2 series.The series was officially announced during the weekend of the 2007 Monaco Grand Prix. GP2 series organiser Bruno Michel commented that "It is of great importance that the GP2 Asia Series maintains a strong and viable...
. It was created by Tony Fernandes
Tony Fernandes
Tan Sri Anthony Francis Fernandes CBE is a Malaysian entrepreneur and the founder of Tune Air Sdn. Bhd., who introduced the first budget no-frills airline, AirAsia, to Malaysians with the tagline "Now everyone can fly"...
, who was also responsible for the revival of the Lotus name in Formula 1 in 2010
2010 Formula One season
The 2010 Formula One season was the 61st Formula One season of World Championship motor racing competition. Red Bull Racing won its maiden Constructors' Championship with a one-two finish in Brazil, while Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel won the Drivers' Championship after winning the final race...
with the creation of the Lotus Racing team. Team AirAsia was officially accepted to the GP2 Series grid on September 21, 2010, along with fellow debutants Carlin Motorsport
Carlin Motorsport
Carlin, formerly Carlin Motorsport, is a motor racing team based in the United Kingdom. It competes in four championships — British Formula Three Championship, GP3 Series, World Series by Renault and GP2 Series.-History:...
, filling the gap left by the departures of Durango
Durango (racing team)
Durango Automotive SRL is an auto racing team founded in 1980 by Ivone Pinton and Enrico Magro and based in Italy, which currently races in the Auto GP series with Carlos Iaconelli...
and DPR
David Price Racing
David Price Racing is a British motor racing team, founded by David Price. They have competed in various forms of motorsport since their foundation in 1976...
. The team made their debut at the first round of the 2010-11 GP2 Asia Series.
In addition to being owned by the same company that owns Team Lotus, Team AirAsia shares deeper technical links with its Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
parent team. The GP2 operation is embedded within the Formula One operation and base, and the two teams share the same technical staff. Team AirAsia's drivers also serve as Team Lotus' test and reserve drivers for the 2011 Formula One season
2011 Formula One season
The 2011 Formula One season was the 62nd FIA Formula One season. The original calendar consisted of twenty rounds, including the inaugural running of the Indian Grand Prix before the cancellation of the Bahrain Grand Prix. Pirelli returned to the sport as tyre supplier for all teams, taking over...
.
The outfit was originally called Team AirAsia. The Caterham
Caterham Cars
Caterham Cars is a manufacturer of specialist lightweight sports cars based in Caterham, Surrey, England and part of the British motor industry. Their only current model, the Caterham 7 , is a direct evolution of the Series 3 Lotus Seven designed by Colin Chapman and originally launched in 1968. A...
designation was added to the official name in June 2011, following Fernandes' purchase of the company.
2011 season
On 11 March 2011, it was confirmed that Luiz RaziaLuiz Razia
Luiz Tadeu Razia Filho is a Brazilian racing driver.-Early career:Razia began his single seater career in 2005 in the South American Formula 3 championship. Driving for Dragão Motorsport, Razia finished sixth in the championship taking six podium finishes, including two race wins...
and Davide Valsecchi
Davide Valsecchi
-Formula Renault:Valsecchi drove in Renault-based series from 2003 to 2007, rising from Italian Formula Renault and the Formula Renault Eurocup to the more powerful cars of the World Series by Renault in 2006...
– drivers for Lotus' sister outfit Team AirAsia in the GP2 Series
GP2 Series
The GP2 Series, GP2 for short, is a form of open wheel motor racing introduced in 2005 following the discontinuation of the long-term Formula One feeder series, Formula 3000. The format was conceived by Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, while Ecclestone also has the rights to the name GP1...
– would join the team as third driver and test driver respectively, and will take part in a number of Friday practice sessions during the season. Ricardo Teixeira
Ricardo Teixeira (racing driver)
Ricardo Teixeira is a Portuguese-Angolan racing driver. He holds dual nationality and has raced under both nationalities at various points in his career. His career has been sponsored by the Angolan oil company, Sonangol.-Formula BMW:Teixeira began his formula racing career in 2001 by driving in...
also joined as a second test driver.
On 13 July 2011, Team announcement GP2 car color livery change from red and white to green and yellow similar color with Team Lotus.
Results
Key:- D.C. = Drivers' Championship position.
- T.C. = Teams' Championship position.
GP2 Asia Series/GP2 Series 2011
| GP2 Asia Championship Results | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Car | Drivers | No | Races | Wins | Poles | Fast laps | Points | D.C. | T.C. |
| 2011 2011 GP2 Asia Series season The 2011 GP2 Asia Series was the fourth and final season of the GP2 Asia Series, and the second to be held entirely in a single calendar year. Rather than starting at the end of 2010 and running through the winter as with the previous two seasons of GP2 Asia, the 2011 season did not start until the... |
Dallara Dallara Dallara Automobili is an Italian chassis manufacturer for various motor racing series, being most notable for its near-monopoly in Formula 3 since 1993... -Mecachrome Mecachrome Mecachrome SAS is a precision engineering company involved in aviation, the automotive industry, motor racing and industrial engineering, but is most famous for assembling the engines designed by Renault for the Renault Formula One team.-Formula One:... |
 Luiz RaziaLuiz Razia Luiz Tadeu Razia Filho is a Brazilian racing driver.-Early career:Razia began his single seater career in 2005 in the South American Formula 3 championship. Driving for Dragão Motorsport, Razia finished sixth in the championship taking six podium finishes, including two race wins... |
26 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25th | 7th |
 Davide ValsecchiDavide Valsecchi -Formula Renault:Valsecchi drove in Renault-based series from 2003 to 2007, rising from Italian Formula Renault and the Formula Renault Eurocup to the more powerful cars of the World Series by Renault in 2006... |
27 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 7th |
| GP2 Championship Results | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Car | Drivers | No | Races | Wins | Poles | Fast laps | Points | D.C. | T.C. |
| 2011 2011 GP2 Series season The 2011 GP2 Series season was the seventh season of the pan-European motor racing series for single specification open wheel GP2 cars. Thirteen teams competed over a nine event series that run from May 7 at Istanbul Park in Turkey to September 11 at Monza in Italy... |
Dallara Dallara Dallara Automobili is an Italian chassis manufacturer for various motor racing series, being most notable for its near-monopoly in Formula 3 since 1993... -Mecachrome Mecachrome Mecachrome SAS is a precision engineering company involved in aviation, the automotive industry, motor racing and industrial engineering, but is most famous for assembling the engines designed by Renault for the Renault Formula One team.-Formula One:... |
Luiz Razia Luiz Razia Luiz Tadeu Razia Filho is a Brazilian racing driver.-Early career:Razia began his single seater career in 2005 in the South American Formula 3 championship. Driving for Dragão Motorsport, Razia finished sixth in the championship taking six podium finishes, including two race wins... |
26 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 12th | 6th |
| Davide Valsecchi Davide Valsecchi -Formula Renault:Valsecchi drove in Renault-based series from 2003 to 2007, rising from Italian Formula Renault and the Formula Renault Eurocup to the more powerful cars of the World Series by Renault in 2006... |
27 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 30 | 8th |