By Ian Lockwood
April 23 2005

Christian Horner must have had mixed emotions today. The High of announcing a new Ferrari engine deal, the low of the teams worst Qualification session of the season, Oh, and the small matter of the first ever GP2 race.

Christian Horner is a busy man at European F1 events. Whilst his focus is naturally on the Red Bull Racing Formula One team, he will also be taking a keen interest in proceedings in the newly formed GP2 series. GP2 has taken over from the now defunct F3000 as the support feature to the European F1 races. GP2 is set to become the standard entry route into F1.

Christian has two reasons for being interested in the feeder series. Firstly he owns Red Bull sponsored Arden Motorsport, a leading light in F3000 and hotly tipped for GP2 success. In addition, Red Bull Junior Racers, Scott Speed (iSport International) and Neel Jani (Racing Engineering) are racing in the series.

Saturday saw the opening race of the season and Christian must have had a smile on his face.

In a thrilling race of tactics and intense on-track battles, Heikki Kovalainen came through to take victory for Arden. He was followed home by Jose Maria Lopez (DAMS) with RBR F1 "driver in waiting" Scott Speed (iSport International.) coming home in third place. Neel Jani crossed the line in sixth.

Race two of the GP2 series is tomorrow (Sunday 24th April).

Ian Lockwood