The Bridgestone-supported GP2 Series starts its fourth season in 2008 with a new car and big changes in the driver line-up. Bridgestone Motorsport Director of Motorsport Tyre Development Hirohide Hamashima gives an insight into what can be expected for the season ahead.

What is new for Bridgestone Motorsport for the 2008 GP2 Series season?
Hirohide Hamashima, Bridgestone Motorsport Director of Motorsport Tyre Development: 2008 is set to be a very exciting season for Bridgestone. We have moved our production of GP2 Series tyres to our Technical Centre in Rome. This helps us with logistics for this European-based series as well as giving our Rome base an exciting challenge. Our engineers will have to work out the best way of using our tyres with the new GP2 / 08 car and we will have new drivers to work with too.

How much of a change is it moving tyre production to Italy?
HH: This is a significant change but one we are excited about. Previously the tyres were produced in Japan and shipped over to Europe, so producing them nearer to where they will be used is a big step. Bridgestone has a large presence in Rome with a Technical Centre and a Proving Ground, so producing our GP2 Series tyres there shows our continued development at that facility.

Logistically, how much of a challenge is it supplying two championships, with the GP2 Asia Series?
HH: Producing tyres for two GP2 series was not a problem as Bridgestone has considerable technical and manufacturing expertise. For the GP2 Asia Series we produced our tyres in Japan while the Europe based series tyres are being manufactured in our Technical Centre in Rome. In the future we may consider moving all GP2 tyre production to Italy. In terms of the two series though, it was interesting for Bridgestone to race at new circuits, and for our engineers and fitting staff this was a new and rewarding challenge.

Will the tyre compounds be the same as last season?
HH: Our compounds for the GP2 Series will remain the same as those used last season: hard, medium and super soft. The hard compound is used at the two most severe circuits on the calendar: Barcelona and Istanbul. The super soft compound will only be used in Monaco, where high levels of grip are required. The medium compound will be used at the remaining circuits.

How big a challenge will it be working with the new GP2 / 08 car?
HH: Of course, we were very familiar with the previous specification GP2 Series car as it was used, in updated forms, for three seasons. The new car should be a fresh challenge, and we look forward to learning about its characteristics.

How rewarding for Bridgestone is its involvement with the GP2 Series?
HH: It is very rewarding for Bridgestone to support so many categories of motorsport. We support drivers from karting, through to Formula 3 and Formula Nippon to the GP2 Series and then Formula One and the IndyCar Series. We have six drivers in Formula One this season who have come from the GP2 Series, and this shows us how strong the Series is for developing driver talent and this benefits us.