The Rookie class of 2010 Part 2.

The Rookie class of 2010



Part 2.

Before we look at the uncertain career prospects for this young driver, Force India have been quietly misplacing a couple of staff over the last few weeks. Hardly earth-shattering to say goodbye to the Director of Business Affairs with a week to go before the first race, but to lose their Technical Director – James Key – to Sauber at the end of February might just take a bit of back room shuffling to keep the team focussed on the Championship.
I have always tried to live my life according to the principles of James Bond, “Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action.” It maybe worth keeping an eye out for any other rumblings from the workshops.


Bruno Senna
If there was ever any doubt what I would be doing next Sunday afternoon, it was removed when HRT, formerly Campos, announced the signing of this young driver. Bearing the name may be a mixed blessing as he hasn’t been in a single seater since the 2008 GP2 championship, but his record from then showed he had talent to compare with much more experienced drivers.

Lucas Di Grassi
Since 2006 he has finished 17th, 2nd, and 3rd twice in the GP2 series, the Brazilian has also been the test driver at Renault for the last two years. With all the entertainment provided by Renault over the last two seasons it’s amazing that he hasn’t been given a ticket to the big show before. In 2008 I think it was, he achieved an excellent third in a poor car.
The only thing to possibly hold Di Grassi back this year would be another……oh well, at least when it isn’t dissolving into its component parts on the racetrack, the Virgin car has been quick.

Karun Chandhok
I honestly don’t know anything about this driver, but despite an uninspiring looking history in GP2 and other series over the last five years, he seems to have had a good early career in formula 2000 and F3. I am counting down the days until HRT announce a major tie-in to an Indian multi-national. The smart money would be on Tata.

Jaime Alguersuari
Considering that he got dropped in to replace Bourdais for the last seven races of the season without the benefit of anything other than straight-line testing, Alguersuari did well to keep the Toro Rosso out on the track for as long as he did. This year, the team is looking quick in pre-season testing and points should begin to pile up.


To sum up the emerging talent

* Hulkenberg and Di Grassi are the ones I will be keeping an eye on.
* Alguersuari to push on with more experience behind him.
* Senna for later in the season.
* Kobayashi for possible entertainment.
* The lad in the picture? Who knows?

Drivers most likely to cause experienced drivers to gibber with fear as they look to overtake.

* Fill in any one of the above that you like or those from part 1.