iSport International
iSport International is a British championship winning motor racing team that competes in the GP2 Series and GP2 Asia Series, the official feeder series for Formula One. It was founded in 2004.
Overview
iSport International was founded in 2004 to compete in the new Formula One feeder series GP2 after F3000 series ended. The team is composed of several former members of the Petrobras Junior Team who took Bruno Junqueira to his Formula 3000 championship victory in 2000. Their factory is based in Carleton Rode near Norwich, England.
Jonathan Williams, son of Williams F1 founder Sir Frank Williams is an advisor for the team.
History
The inaugural season of the GP2 series saw iSport take the fastest time in the shoot-out for race numbers, giving their drivers Scott Speed and Can Artam numbers 1 and 2 for the season. While the team was regularly fast at races they weren't able to win a race. The team finished the season in 4th place.
In 2006 the American graduated to Formula One with a drive at Toro Rosso, and iSport filled their seats with Ernesto Viso and Tristan Gommendy, who would be replaced by Timo Glock at mid-season. Viso brought the team their first two wins, with Glock taking two more wins, giving the team 3rd place in the championship.
Timo Glock remained with the team for 2007 and was joined by 2006 race winner Andreas Zuber. Timo Glock won the championship at the last race of the season at Valencia after a season long battle with Lucas di Grassi. The team won the team's championship.
Glock's move to Formula One with Toyota, and Zuber leaving to join Piquet Sport, saw iSport sign Bruno Senna (nephew of three times F1 world champion Ayrton) and Karun Chandhok to drive for them in 2008. Both drivers also competed for iSport in the GP2 Asia Series.
In 2009 Giedo van der Garde and Diego Nunes replaced Bruno Senna and Karun Chandhok.
iSport are believed to be evaluating an entry to Formula One, but team principal Paul Jackson says he is waiting for the FIA to finalise its plans to cap budgets in the sport before making any solid plans. "For many years I've said if the conditions were right and the numbers made sense, then we'd enter F1," said Jackson. "The budget cap could be the perfect opportunity for us, but until we find out what the magic number is, I don't know if it's do-able or feasible. When it's all in print, we'll look at it, start doing our sums and talking to potential investors."[1]
Results
Key:
- D.C. = Drivers' Championship position.
- T.C. = Teams' Championship position.
| GP2 Championship Results | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Drivers | Wins | Points | D.C. | T.C. | |
| 2009 | 
|
Giedo van der Garde | 3 | 34 | 7th | 5th |
|
Diego Nunes | 0 | 8 | 20th | ||
| 2008 | 
|
Karun Chandhok | 1 | 31 | 10th | 2nd |
|
|
Bruno Senna | 2 | 64 | 2nd | ||
| 2007 | 
|
Timo Glock | 5 | 92 | 1st | 1st |
|
Andreas Zuber | 1 | 30 | 9th | ||
| 2006 | 
|
Ernesto Viso | 2 | 42 | 6th | 3rd |
|
Tristan Gommendy | 0 | 6 | 20th | ||
|
|
Timo Glock | 2 | 58 | 4th | ||
| 2005 | 
|
Scott Speed | 0 | 57.5 | 3rd | 4th |
|
Can Artam | 0 | 2 | 22nd | ||