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The GP2 Series, which replaced Formula 3000 as the premier steppingstone to Formula 1 this year, unveiled this Tuesday the official entry list for its second season. All 12 teams that took part in the inaugural campaign, won by new Williams driver Nico Rosberg and the ART Grand Prix squad, have returned, and the grid will be boosted to 26 entries with the addition of a new team, Trident Racing.
Trident is owned by Italian Maurizio Salvadori, manager of former F1 and current GP2 driver Gianmaria Bruni, and Dutch soccer star Clarence Seedorf. Bruni was confirmed as the team’s lead driver next year. The second driver will be chosen "soon," according to a team release.
“Trident Racing put forward a proposal which promised strong sporting and engineering excellence with a rigorous and stable financial plan,” said GP2 organizer Bruno Michel. “Theirs was a proposal which could not be overlooked, and I am very happy to welcome them to the GP2 family.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the teams who submitted a proposal. The strength of their applications made it very hard to pick just one team.”
Among the squads turned down was Carlin Motorsport, one of the most successful teams in junior formulae such as British F3 and the World Series by Renault. Team owner Trevor Carlin said he will consider buying entry rights from one of GP2’s current existing teams.
2006 GP2 Series entry list, car numbers:
ART Grand Prix: 1, 2
Arden International: 3, 4
Super Nova International: 5, 6
iSport International: 7, 8
Racing Engineering: 9, 10
Piquet Sports: 11, 12
DAMS: 14, 15
Coloni Motorsport: 16, 17
BCN Competicion: 18, 19
DPR: 20, 21
Durango: 22, 23
Campos Racing: 24, 25
Trident Racing: 26, 27
Trident is owned by Italian Maurizio Salvadori, manager of former F1 and current GP2 driver Gianmaria Bruni, and Dutch soccer star Clarence Seedorf. Bruni was confirmed as the team’s lead driver next year. The second driver will be chosen "soon," according to a team release.
“Trident Racing put forward a proposal which promised strong sporting and engineering excellence with a rigorous and stable financial plan,” said GP2 organizer Bruno Michel. “Theirs was a proposal which could not be overlooked, and I am very happy to welcome them to the GP2 family.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the teams who submitted a proposal. The strength of their applications made it very hard to pick just one team.”
Among the squads turned down was Carlin Motorsport, one of the most successful teams in junior formulae such as British F3 and the World Series by Renault. Team owner Trevor Carlin said he will consider buying entry rights from one of GP2’s current existing teams.
2006 GP2 Series entry list, car numbers:
ART Grand Prix: 1, 2
Arden International: 3, 4
Super Nova International: 5, 6
iSport International: 7, 8
Racing Engineering: 9, 10
Piquet Sports: 11, 12
DAMS: 14, 15
Coloni Motorsport: 16, 17
BCN Competicion: 18, 19
DPR: 20, 21
Durango: 22, 23
Campos Racing: 24, 25
Trident Racing: 26, 27
Should run em with the F1 cars. 
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