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Lotus boss breaks into GP2 with Team Air Asia

ESPNF1 Staff
September 21, 2010 « Ecclestone keen to see Chandhok in competitive car | »
Tony Fernandes will have teams on both the F1 and GP2 grids © Sutton Images
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The GP2 grid will top out at 26 cars next year with the new additions of Team Air Asia and Carlin.

Team Air Asia will be a brand new outfit owned by Lotus team principal Tony Fernandes and named after his Malaysian low-fare airline. Carlin has won multiple championships in other categories, most recently GP3, and will make the step up to the F1 feeder series.

Series organiser Bruno Michel said the two new teams had stuck out as obvious candidates to fill the empty spaces on the grid.

"We have known Carlin for a long time," he said. "We signed them in GP3 Series and we have been very pleased not with only their results, but also with the way they integrated into our working environment. To have them enter GP2 is the logical next step.

"As for Team Air Asia, the seriousness of their presentation, their ambition and their worldwide project were really appealing. We are very happy to welcome an Asian team to our paddock."

The new outfits will compete alongside the existing 11 teams in both the European and Asian GP2 Series.

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