Rapax Team

Last updated
Flag of Italy.svg Rapax
Logo rapax.jpg
Founded2010
Founder(s)Gianfranco Sovernigo
Valter Sovernigo
Folded2017
Base Veggiano, Padua, Italy
Team principal(s)Gianfranco Sovernigo [1]
Andrea Bergamini [1]
Former series FIA Formula 2 Championship
GP2 Series
GP2 Asia Series
Noted drivers Flag of Monaco.svg Stefano Coletti
Flag of Russia.svg Sergey Sirotkin
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Nyck de Vries
Teams'
Championships
GP2 Series :
2010
Drivers'
Championships
GP2 Series :
2010: Pastor Maldonado
Website http://www.rapaxteam.com/

Rapax Team was an Italian motor racing team. The team's history can be traced back to when the GP Racing team was founded in 1997, and also to when Piquet Sports was created in 2000 by triple world champion Nelson Piquet. In 2007, Piquet Sports and GP Racing merged to create "Minardi Piquet Sports". In 2008, the team dropped "Minardi" from their name. [2] In early 2009, the team was sold and rebranded as Piquet GP, but changed its name again in November to Rapax Team, once all remaining ties to part-owner Piquet were cut.

Contents

History

During 2009, the team was sold and all remaining ties with part-owner Nelson Piquet were severed. The team was rebranded "Rapax" (Latin for "predator") at the beginning of 2010, after the Legio XXI Rapax Roman legion. Pastor Maldonado rejoined the team, alongside Luiz Razia. Maldonado won six races on his way to the drivers' championship, and Razia backed him up with 11th place overall, allowing Rapax to win the teams' championship for the first time, and in the first year of its new identity.

For 2011, Maldonado graduated to Formula One with the Williams team and Razia moved to the new Caterham Team AirAsia; Rapax signed Fabio Leimer and Julián Leal to replace them. Leimer won a single race but was unable build on it, restricting him to fourteenth place in the drivers' championship, whilst Leal did not score at all; Rapax dropped to tenth in the teams' championship.

In 2012, the team improved to ninth overall through the combined efforts of Tom Dillmann, Stefano Coletti, Ricardo Teixeira and Daniël de Jong. Dillmann was the most successful with a single victory, but was dropped for budgetary reasons mid-season and replaced by De Jong. De Jong's Auto GP racing commitments also resulted in him missing the final two races of the championship, for which he was replaced by Scuderia Coloni refugee Coletti. By contrast, Teixeira competed in all but one round of the season, but failed to score any points.

For 2013 the team kept Coletti and signed with Simon Trummer. Coletti took three race wins and improved to the fifth place in the standings. While Trummer had six point-scoring finishes on his way to the 20th place in the driver standings.

Trummer was retained for the 2014 GP2 Series. He was joined by Adrian Quaife-Hobbs. The team had suffered a weak season, with just one podium that Quaife-Hobbs had collected.

The team had completely changed their line-up for the 2015 GP2 Series, signing with Sergey Sirotkin and Robert Vișoiu. [3] [4] The team had scored its first win since 2013 Monaco round with Sirotkin in the 2015 Silverstone round. [5] Sirotkin was also the first Rapax driver since Maldonado who had finished in the top-three in the driver standings with the team. For the last two rounds of the season Visoiu was replaced by Gustav Malja. [6]

Malja remained with the team for the full 2016 GP2 Series campaign. [7] Arthur Pic completed the team line-up. [8] Malja had podiums at Spa and Monza, while Pic finished on podium at Hockenheimring. Pic was replaced by Johnny Cecotto Jr. in the two final rounds. Rapax ended ninth in the team standings.

In 2017, the GP2 Series was rebranded to FIA Formula 2 Championship. The team had started the season with Cecotto and Nyck de Vries. [9] De Vries won the Sprint Monaco F2 race — the first race win for the Rapax since Sirotkin in 2015. [10] At Spielberg Cecotto was replaced by Sergio Canamasas. [10] Rapax field two new drivers at Spa, signing with Louis Delétraz and Roberto Merhi. [11] René Binder had a one-off round appearance for Rapax at Jerez. [12] Despite not having a permanent driver line-up, results shown by De Vries helped the team to achieve fifth place in the teams standings — the highest position since they took the teams' championship back in 2010. But the team decided to stop their racing activity and leave the FIA Formula 2 Championship. [13]

Results

GP2 Series

YearCarDriversRacesWinsPolesFast lapsPointsD.C.T.C.
2010 Dallara GP2/08-Mecachrome Flag of Venezuela.svg Pastor Maldonado 20605871st1st
Flag of Brazil.svg Luiz Razia 200012811th
2011 Dallara GP2/11-Mecachrome Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Fabio Leimer 181011514th10th
Flag of Colombia.svg Julián Leal 18000027th
2012 Dallara GP2/11-Mecachrome Flag of Monaco.svg Stefano Coletti 220025013th†9th
Flag of France.svg Tom Dillmann 141002915th
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Daniël de Jong 8000026th
Flag of Portugal (official).svg Ricardo Teixeira 22000029th
2013 Dallara GP2/11-Mecachrome Flag of Monaco.svg Stefano Coletti 223151355th7th
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Simon Trummer 220002021st
2014 Dallara GP2/11-Mecachrome Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Adrian Quaife-Hobbs 220003013th9th
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Simon Trummer 220002617th
2015 Dallara GP2/11-Mecachrome Flag of Russia.svg Sergey Sirotkin 211111393rd6th
Flag of Romania.svg Robert Vișoiu 180002017th
Flag of Sweden.svg Gustav Malja 3000125th‡
2016 Dallara GP2/11-Mecachrome Flag of Sweden.svg Gustav Malja 220005313th9th
Flag of France.svg Arthur Pic 180003614th
Flag of Venezuela.svg Johnny Cecotto Jr. 40001818th
† Includes points scored for Scuderia Coloni.
‡ Includes points scored for Trident Racing.

FIA Formula 2 Championship

YearCarDriversRacesWinsPolesFast lapsPointsD.C.T.C.
2017 Dallara GP2/11-Mecachrome Flag of the Netherlands.svg Nyck de Vries 221021147th†5th
Flag of Spain.svg Sergio Canamasas 140002114th†
Flag of Venezuela.svg Johnny Cecotto Jr. 80001616th
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Louis Delétraz 220001617th†
Flag of Spain.svg Roberto Merhi 80001618th†
Flag of Austria.svg René Binder 2000028th

† Shared his position and results with another team.

GP2 Series

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

YearChassis
Engine
Tyres
Drivers123456789101112131415161718192021222324T.C.Points
2010 GP2/08
Mecachrome
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
1th115
Flag of Brazil.svg Luiz Razia 727552RetRetRet15Ret1310Ret1610Ret1072
Flag of Venezuela.svg Pastor Maldonado 63211161414120†1DSQ1RetRetRet179
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
10th15
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Fabio Leimer Ret208197Ret141511DSQ81111RetRet72
Flag of Colombia.svg Julián Leal 19Ret1714RetRet119222114920RetRetRet16Ret
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
9th44
Flag of Portugal (official).svg Ricardo Teixeira 212417132320Ret2320Ret1815DSQ161920181520181721
Flag of France.svg Tom Dillmann 181161081221211RetRet129Ret
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Daniël de Jong 169Ret1315191311
Flag of Monaco.svg Stefano Coletti 84138
2013 GP2/11
Mecachrome
P
SEP
FEA
SEP
SPR
BHR
FEA
BHR
SPR
CAT
FEA
CAT
SPR
MON
FEA
MON
SPR
SIL
FEA
SIL
SPR
NÜR
FEA
NÜR
SPR
HUN
FEA
HUN
SPR
SPA
FEA
SPA
SPR
MNZ
FEA
MNZ
SPR
MRN
FEA
MRN
SPR
YMC
FEA
YMC
SPR
7th155
Flag of Monaco.svg Stefano Coletti 3123416121†103191620†1323Ret13122420†9
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Simon Trummer 96914191613232416149671211Ret161613137
2014 GP2/11
Mecachrome
P
BHR
FEA
BHR
SPR
CAT
FEA
CAT
SPR
MON
FEA
MON
SPR
RBR
FEA
RBR
SPR
SIL
FEA
SIL
SPR
HOC
FEA
HOC
SPR
HUN
FEA
HUN
SPR
SPA
FEA
SPA
SPR
MNZ
FEA
MNZ
SPR
SOC
FEA
SOC
SPR
YMC
FEA
YMC
SPR
9th56
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Adrian Quaife-Hobbs 1069998241813151482121121118
Flag of Cyprus.svg Tio Ellinas 2114
Flag of Italy.svg Kevin Giovesi 1920
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Simon Trummer 7212RetRet182020251861411131817191115211716
2015 GP2/11
Mecachrome
P
BHR
FEA
BHR
SPR
CAT
FEA
CAT
SPR
MON
FEA
MON
SPR
RBR
FEA
RBR
SPR
SIL
FEA
SIL
SPR
HUN
FEA
HUN
SPR
SPA
FEA
SPA
SPR
MNZ
FEA
MNZ
SPR
SOC
FEA
SOC
SPR
BHR
FEA
BHR
SPR
YMC
FEA
YMC
SPR
6th159
Flag of Russia.svg Sergey Sirotkin 121416105324183396Ret54215413C
Flag of Romania.svg Robert Vișoiu 571823151311912119715169Ret1718
Flag of Sweden.svg Gustav Malja 161316C
2016 GP2/11
Mecachrome
P
CAT
FEA
CAT
SPR
MON
FEA
MON
SPR
BAK
FEA
BAK
SPR
RBR
FEA
RBR
SPR
SIL
FEA
SIL
SPR
HUN
FEA
HUN
SPR
HOC
FEA
HOC
SPR
SPA
FEA
SPA
SPR
MNZ
FEA
MNZ
SPR
SEP
FEA
SEP
SPR
YMC
FEA
YMC
SPR
9th107
Flag of Sweden.svg Gustav Malja 910141210Ret13162219131468823795Ret14
Flag of France.svg Arthur Pic 13Ret109Ret891814115Ret431422†Ret11
Flag of Venezuela.svg Johnny Cecotto Jr. 13972

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
8th0
Flag of Spain.svg Dani Clos Ret9
Flag of Romania.svg Mihai Marinescu 17Ret

GP2 Asia Series

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

YearChassis
Engine
Tyres
Drivers12345678T.C.Points
2009–10 GP2/05
Renault
B
YMC1
FEA
YMC1
SPR
YMC2
FEA
YMC2
SPR
BHR1
FEA
BHR1
SPR
BHR2
FEA
BHR2
SPR
12th0
Flag of Bulgaria.svg Vladimir Arabadzhiev 1310177129
Flag of Italy.svg Daniel Zampieri Ret15118
Flag of Brazil.svg Luiz Razia Ret13
2011 GP2/11
Mecachrome
P
YMC
FEA
YMC
SPR
IMO
FEA
IMO
SPR
8th9
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Fabio Leimer 10662
Flag of Italy.svg Julián Leal Ret171618

FIA Formula 2 Championship

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

YearChassis
Engine
Tyres
Drivers12345678910111213141516171819202122T.C.Points
2017 GP2/11
Mecachrome
P
BHR
FEA
BHR
SPR
CAT
FEA
CAT
SPR
MON
FEA
MON
SPR
BAK
FEA
BAK
SPR
RBR
FEA
RBR
SPR
SIL
FEA
SIL
SPR
HUN
FEA
HUN
SPR
SPA
FEA
SPA
SPR
MNZ
FEA
MNZ
SPR
JER
FEA
JER
SPR
YMC
FEA
YMC
SPR
5th137
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Nyck de Vries 10610Ret712Ret1316†DNS733
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Louis Delétraz 141274171210Ret
Flag of Venezuela.svg Johnny Cecotto Jr. 159171082Ret14
Flag of Spain.svg Sergio Canamasas 15954RetRet
Flag of Spain.svg Roberto Merhi 761151610
Flag of Austria.svg René Binder 1517

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 "Rapax — GP2 Series - ©2010". GP2 Series . GP2 Motorsport Limited.
  2. "The Renaissance Men of GP2", Autosport Magazine pg. 40–41. May 8, 2008 Issue (Vol. 192, No. 6)
  3. Khorounzhiy, Valentin (17 February 2015). "Sirotkin makes GP2 switch with Rapax". formulascout.com. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  4. "Robert Visoiu completes Rapax 2015 line up". GP2 Series . GP2 Motorsport Limited. 6 March 2015. Archived from the original on 9 March 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  5. Allen, Peter (4 July 2015). "Sergey Sirotkin takes first GP2 victory in Silverstone feature race". formulascout.com. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  6. Allen, Peter (16 November 2015). "Malja back in GP2 for final two rounds, replacing Visoiu at Rapax". Paddock Scout. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  7. "Rapax to field Gustav Malja for 2016 season". gp2series.com . GP2 Motorsport Limited. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  8. "Rapax and Arthur Pic join forces for 2016 GP2 Series". gp2series.com . GP2 Motorsport Limited. 28 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  9. "Rapax to race with Cecotto and De Vries". 11 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  10. 1 2 Khorounzhiy, Valentin (6 July 2017). "Marciello returns to single-seaters for Red Bull Ring F2 round". Motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  11. Vega, Jacobo (17 November 2017). "Ex-Formula 1 driver Roberto Merhi back to Formula 2 again". Autosport.
  12. "Binder joins Rapax for Jerez F2 round". GPUpdate.net. SportUpdate. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  13. Suttill, Joshua (29 December 2017). "ASSESSING THE 2018 FORMULA 2 DRIVER MARKET". readmotorsport.com. Retrieved 21 January 2018. Russian Time and Rapax have exited the series but will be replaced by Formula V8 3.5 teams Charouz Racing and Fortec Motorsport, as well as the returning Carlin.
Achievements
Preceded by GP2 Series Teams' Champion
2010
Succeeded by