ISport International

Last updated

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg iSport International
Logo isport.jpg
Founded2004
Folded2014
Team principal(s)Paul Jackson
Former series GP2 Series [lower-alpha 1]
GP2 Asia Series
Noted drivers Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sam Bird
Flag of India.svg Karun Chandhok
Flag of Sweden.svg Marcus Ericsson
Flag of Germany.svg Timo Glock
Flag of Brazil.svg Bruno Senna
Flag of the United States.svg Scott Speed
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Oliver Turvey
Flag of Italy.svg Davide Valsecchi
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Giedo van der Garde
Flag of Venezuela.svg Ernesto Viso
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Andreas Zuber
Teams'
Championships
GP2 Series :
2007
GP2 Asia Series :
2009-10
Drivers'
Championships
GP2 Series :
2007: Timo Glock
GP2 Asia Series :
2009-10: Davide Valsecchi

iSport International was a British motor racing team that competed in the GP2 Series. The team was founded by Paul Jackson, Gavin Bickerton-Jones and Richard Selwin, former members of the Petrobras Junior Team in 2004, ahead of the inaugural GP2 season. Their factory is based in Carleton Rode near Norwich in the United Kingdom.

Contents

iSport's most successful season in GP2 came in 2007, when they won the teams' title, with Timo Glock winning the drivers' championship. The team finished second in 2008, and won the 2009–10 GP2 Asia Series drivers' and teams' championship. They pulled out of the GP2 series before the 2013 season, after encountering financial difficulties. iSport returned to motorsport in 2014, running a GP2 team for Russian Time.

Racing history

GP2 Series

The inaugural season of the GP2 series saw iSport take the fastest time in the shoot-out for race numbers, giving drivers Scott Speed and Can Artam numbers 1 and 2 for the season. While the team was regularly fast at races, neither driver was able to win a race. Nevertheless, Speed finished third in the championship with consistent points-scoring finishes, whilst Artam was 22nd overall with two points. iSport finished the season in fourth place in the teams' championship. For 2006, Speed graduated to Formula One with a drive at Scuderia Toro Rosso and Artam left the series. iSport filled its seats with Ernesto Viso and Tristan Gommendy, the latter of whom was later replaced by Timo Glock at the mid-season point. Viso took the team's first two victories in the category and Glock added two more; the part-season driver overhauling his teammate's points tally to finish the year fourth overall in the drivers' standings, with Viso sixth and Gommendy 20th. iSport improved to third in the teams' championship.

Bruno Senna driving for iSport at the 2008 Silverstone GP2 Series round. Bruno Senna 2008 GP2 Silverstone.jpg
Bruno Senna driving for iSport at the 2008 Silverstone GP2 Series round.

Glock remained with the team for 2007 and was joined by 2006 race winner Andreas Zuber. Glock won five races on his way to the championship title, prevailing in a season-long duel with Lucas di Grassi (ART Grand Prix). Zuber supported him with a single further victory on his way to ninth overall, although the teammates embarrassingly collided whilst accelerating away from the front row of the grid at the feature race of the round held at Magny-Cours. To cap a successful year, iSport also won its first teams' championship. For the 2008 season, iSport joined the GP2 Asia Series in its inaugural year, signing Bruno Senna and Karun Chandhok. After a low-key Asia campaign, which saw the team finish fifth in the standings, the Senna-Chandhok combination was retained for the main series season, in which Senna emerged as champion Giorgio Pantano's main rival, accumulating two victories on his way to the runner-up position in the drivers' table. Chandhok also won a race and finished tenth overall; iSport ended the season second in the teams' championship to the Barwa International Campos Team.

Diego Nunes (iSport) leads Alvaro Parente and Romain Grosjean at the 2009 Istanbul Park GP2 Series round. Nunes + Parente + Grosjean 2009 GP2 Turkey.jpg
Diego Nunes (iSport) leads Álvaro Parente and Romain Grosjean at the 2009 Istanbul Park GP2 Series round.

For the 2008-09 Asia Series season, the departing driver line-up was replaced with reigning Formula Renault 3.5 Series champion Giedo van der Garde and a series-encouraged Asian driver, Hamad Al Fardan. Van der Garde and Al Fardan scored 13 points between them, resulting in an eighth-place championship finish for the team. For the 2009 main series, Van der Garde was retained with Diego Nunes replacing Al Fardan; Van der Garde won three races but only managed seventh in the drivers' championship, whilst Nunes was back in 20th. iSport finished fifth overall in the teams' championship. Both drivers then moved on, and were replaced by Davide Valsecchi and Oliver Turvey for both the 2009-10 Asia Series and the 2010 main series. In the Asia Series, Valsecchi won three races and sealed the championship title, with rookie driver Turvey backing him up to take sixth overall, allowing iSport to win the Asia teams' championship for the first time. In the main series, however, the team was unable to maintain this level of form: Valsecchi ended the season strongly with the outfit's sole victory at Yas Marina, but was overshadowed by Turvey, who concluded the year sixth in the drivers' championship to Valsecchi's eighth. iSport maintained its fifth place in the teams' championship.

iSport again signed two new drivers—Sam Bird and Marcus Ericsson—for the abortive 2011 Asia Series and the 2011 main series. On this occasion, neither driver won a race: Bird finished sixth in the final standings with a single position, with Ericsson four places behind him but the team improving to fourth overall. Ericsson was retained for 2012, with Jolyon Palmer signed from the Arden team to replace the Formula Renault 3.5-bound Bird. The drivers' fortunes improved, as they took a race victory apiece, but iSport slipped to sixth in the teams' championship at season's end.

The iSport GP2 contract was acquired by Russian Time for the 2013 season.

Formula One

The iSport team was believed to have been evaluating an entry to Formula One, but team principal Paul Jackson said that he was 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." iSport's possible F1 entry was cancelled after they pulled out of GP2. [1]

Results

GP2 Series

YearCarDriversRacesWinsPolesF.L.PointsD.C.T.C.
2005 Dallara GP2/05-Mecachrome Flag of the United States.svg Scott Speed 2301557.53rd4th
Flag of Turkey.svg Can Artam 23000222nd
2006 Dallara GP2/05-Mecachrome Flag of Venezuela.svg Ernesto Viso 21201426th3rd
Flag of France.svg Tristan Gommendy 9000620th
Flag of Germany.svg Timo Glock 1220158 [lower-alpha 2] 4th
2007 Dallara GP2/05-Mecachrome Flag of Germany.svg Timo Glock 21544921st1st
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Andreas Zuber 21112309th
2008 Dallara GP2/08-Mecachrome Flag of India.svg Karun Chandhok 201003110th2nd
Flag of Brazil.svg Bruno Senna 20231642nd
2009 Dallara GP2/08-Mecachrome Flag of the Netherlands.svg Giedo van der Garde 20300347th5th
Flag of Brazil.svg Diego Nunes 20000820th
2010 Dallara GP2/08-Mecachrome Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Oliver Turvey 20010476th5th
Flag of Italy.svg Davide Valsecchi 20110318th
2011 Dallara GP2/11-Mecachrome Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sam Bird 18010456th4th
Flag of Sweden.svg Marcus Ericsson 180002510th
2012 Dallara GP2/11-Mecachrome Flag of Sweden.svg Marcus Ericsson 241001248th6th
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jolyon Palmer 241007811th

In detail

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearChassis
Engine
Tyres
Drivers123456789101112131415161718192021222324T.C.Points
2005 GP2/05
Renault
B
SMR
FEA
SMR
SPR
CAT
FEA
CAT
SPR
MON
FEA
NÜR
FEA
NÜR
SPR
MAG
FEA
MAG
SPR
SIL
FEA
SIL
SPR
HOC
FEA
HOC
SPR
HUN
FEA
HUN
SPR
IST
FEA
IST
SPR
MNZ
FEA
MNZ
SPR
SPA
FEA
SPA
SPR
BHR
FEA
BHR
SPR
4th69.5
Flag of the United States.svg Scott Speed 3Ret234161215184243Ret1954Ret1544Ret19
Flag of Turkey.svg Can Artam 16†RetRetRet717Ret17161814Ret201412111699Ret22†1716
2006 GP2/05
Renault
B
VAL
FEA
VAL
SPR
SMR
FEA
SMR
SPR
NÜR
FEA
NÜR
SPR
CAT
FEA
CAT
SPR
MON
FEA
SIL
FEA
SIL
SPR
MAG
FEA
MAG
SPR
HOC
FEA
HOC
SPR
HUN
FEA
HUN
SPR
IST
FEA
IST
SPR
MNZ
FEA
MNZ
SPR
3rd101
Flag of Venezuela (1930-1954).svg Ernesto Viso 826161181RetRet810Ret5444Ret13Ret10
Flag of France.svg Tristan Gommendy Ret11Ret17131255Ret
Flag of Germany.svg Timo Glock 2614312544RetDNS
2007 GP2/05
Renault
B
BHR
FEA
BHR
SPR
CAT
FEA
CAT
SPR
MON
FEA
MAG
FEA
MAG
SPR
SIL
FEA
SIL
SPR
NÜR
FEA
NÜR
SPR
HUN
FEA
HUN
SPR
IST
FEA
IST
SPR
MNZ
FEA
MNZ
SPR
SPA
FEA
SPA
SPR
VAL
FEA
VAL
SPR
1st118
Flag of Germany.svg Timo Glock 22213RetRetRetRet1510Ret413117DNS71
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Andreas Zuber 3RetDNS9RetRet1516Ret2136Ret14Ret518121212
2008 GP2/08
Renault
B
CAT
FEA
CAT
SPR
IST
FEA
IST
SPR
MON
FEA
MON
FEA
MAG
FEA
MAG
SPR
SIL
FEA
SIL
SPR
HOC
FEA
HOC
SPR
HUN
FEA
HUN
SPR
VAL
FEA
VAL
SPR
SPA
FEA
SPA
SPR
MNZ
FEA
MNZ
SPR
2nd95
Flag of India.svg Karun Chandhok 9Ret4123Ret7Ret3Ret814DNS15†Ret10711Ret
Flag of Brazil.svg Bruno Senna 2415Ret15Ret56143339Ret11Ret59
2009 GP2/08
Renault
B
CAT
FEA
CAT
SPR
MON
FEA
MON
FEA
IST
FEA
IST
SPR
SIL
FEA
SIL
SPR
NÜR
FEA
NÜR
SPR
HUN
FEA
HUN
SPR
VAL
FEA
VAL
SPR
SPA
FEA
SPA
SPR
MNZ
FEA
MNZ
SPR
ALG
FEA
ALG
SPR
5th42
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Giedo van der Garde 74NC111513Ret1312Ret7114Ret6116Ret6
Flag of Brazil.svg Diego Nunes 118Ret14111111RetRet11Ret151159310Ret125
2010 GP2/08
Renault
B
CAT
FEA
CAT
SPR
MON
FEA
MON
SPR
IST
FEA
IST
SPR
VAL
FEA
VAL
SPR
SIL
FEA
SIL
SPR
HOC
FEA
HOC
SPR
HUN
FEA
HUN
SPR
SPA
FEA
SPA
SPR
MNZ
FEA
MNZ
SPR
YMC
FEA
YMC
SPR
5th78
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Oliver Turvey 5515151418Ret128282456536217
Flag of Italy.svg Davide Valsecchi 1011Ret16241067617189318891651
2011 GP2/11
Mecachrome
P
IST
FEA
IST
SPR
CAT
FEA
CAT
SPR
MON
FEA
MON
SPR
VAL
FEA
VAL
SPR
SIL
FEA
SIL
SPR
NÜR
FEA
NÜR
SPR
HUN
FEA
HUN
SPR
SPA
FEA
SPA
SPR
MNZ
FEA
MNZ
SPR
4th70
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sam Bird 2335Ret13512568717512544
Flag of Sweden.svg Marcus Ericsson 9853RetRetRet1134516†516Ret12148
2012 GP2/11
Mecachrome
P
SEP
FEA
SEP
SPR
BHR1
FEA
BHR1
SPR
BHR2
FEA
BHR2
SPR
CAT
FEA
CAT
SPR
MON
FEA
MON
SPR
VAL
FEA
VAL
SPR
SIL
FEA
SIL
SPR
HOC
FEA
HOC
SPR
HUN
FEA
HUN
SPR
SPA
FEA
SPA
SPR
MNZ
FEA
MNZ
SPR
MRN
FEA
MRN
SPR
6th202
Flag of Sweden.svg Marcus Ericsson 13Ret1316771322242Ret217111518Ret143772
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jolyon Palmer 1712DNS724†229DNS61RetRet35181865Ret1073RetRet

GP2 Final

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearChassis
Engine
Tyres
Drivers12T.C.Points
2011 GP2/11
Mecachrome
P
YMC
FEA
YMC
SPR
1st17
Flag of France.svg Tom Dillmann 63
Flag of Sweden.svg Marcus Ericsson 42

GP2 Asia Series

YearCarDriversRacesWinsPolesFast lapsPointsD.C.T.C.
2008 Dallara GP2/08-Mecachrome Flag of India.svg Karun Chandhok 10000713th5th
Flag of Brazil.svg Bruno Senna 10003235th
2008–09 Dallara GP2/08-Mecachrome Flag of the Netherlands.svg Giedo van der Garde 110001112th8th
Flag of Bahrain.svg Hamad Al Fardan 11000220th
2009–10 Dallara GP2/08-Mecachrome Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Oliver Turvey 8100176th1st
Flag of Italy.svg Davide Valsecchi 8314561st
2011 Dallara GP2/11-Mecachrome Flag of Sweden.svg Marcus Ericsson 400096th5th
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sam Bird 4000212th

In detail

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearChassis
Engine
Tyres
Drivers123456789101112T.C.Points
2008 GP2/05
Renault
B
DUB1
FEA
DUB1
SPR
SEN
FEA
SEN
SPR
SEP
FEA
SEP
SPR
BHR
FEA
BHR
SPR
DUB2
FEA
DUB2
SPR
5th30
Flag of India.svg Karun Chandhok 73Ret13Ret78RetRetRet
Flag of Brazil.svg Bruno Senna 21972Ret84DNSDSQ11
2008–09 GP2/05
Renault
B
SHI
FEA
SHI
SPR
DUB3
FEA
DUB3
SPR
BHR1
FEA
BHR1
SPR
LSL
FEA
LSL
SPR
SEP
FEA
SEP
SPR
BHR2
FEA
BHR2
SPR
8th13
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Giedo van der Garde 10DNS4C714128141057
Flag of Bahrain.svg Hamad Al Fardan 15RetRetC12RetRetRet95Ret17
2009–10 GP2/05
Renault
B
YMC1
FEA
YMC1
SPR
YMC2
FEA
YMC2
SPR
BHR1
FEA
BHR1
SPR
BHR2
FEA
BHR2
SPR
1st73
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Oliver Turvey 841596911
Flag of Italy.svg Davide Valsecchi 122112024
2011 GP2/11
Mecachrome
P
YMC
FEA
YMC
SPR
IMO
FEA
IMO
SPR
5th11
Flag of Sweden.svg Marcus Ericsson 431016
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sam Bird 7RetRetRet

Notes

  1. Operation Team at Russian Time team in 2014
  2. Glock had scored 5 points for BCN Competición during the first 9 races of the season.

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References

  1. "ISport waiting for finalised budget cap".

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Achievements
Preceded by GP2 Series Teams' Champion
2007
Succeeded by
Preceded by GP2 Asia Series Teams' Champion
2009–10
Succeeded by