January 23, 2012
Published on tags: Superleague
The 2012 seasons looms on the GPVWC paddock with just a few tantalising weeks left until the first test. It has been frantic since Christmas with all thirteen teams confirming their participation along with driver line-ups.


The bidding processed has recently opened and will be hotly contested by all teams prior the first test; until then we take a look at the 2012 grid:


Green Stripes Racing "' Car No. 26 and 27 - Christoph Lichtenstein and Matthew Clipp:


Christoph had a slow start to the 2011 campaign. Towards the back of the season he had really started to find his feet and picked up some very encouraging performances and results. Looking to develop himself, Christoph now takes on the challenge of being a team manager. This is going to be a tall order but one the young German is eagerly anticipating.


Matt Clipp is a newer name to the GPVWC field. Clipp comes in as a relatively unknown quantity wanting to impress his team manager early on. Clipp is one to watch closely as an emerging talent.


Kernow Sport " Car No. 24 and 25 " Mark Wicks and Simon Cattell:


Kernow Sport is another new entrant for the 2012 season. Wicks has departed his seat at Woods Racing to kick start his endeavours for his own team. Wicks himself is a seasoned peddler and a very capable pair of hands. Wicks has collected many podiums along his decorated career and will hope to put those talents in to his own car.


Simon Cattell became hot property in the winter season. Cattell impressed the entire GPVWC community after storming to the Masters title and opening the eyes of many teams. The keen eye of Wicks saw potential and has snapped him up for the coming season. Kernow a new team but with a very quick line-up could be a real threat to the front runners.


Nijo Racing "' Car No. 22 and 23 - Abdel Damghi and Ruud Heesterbeek.


Damghi experienced a rollercoaster 2011. Showed some very good speed when came to qualifying but struggled to convert always in to race results. An invigorated Damghi will hope to take Nijo to new heights in the 2012 season.


GPVWC welcomes a new driver to the grid in the shape of Ruud Heersterbeek. This driver was recommended to the management of Nijo Racing by Damghi himself and now working as a partnership hope to elevate the team up the field.


Red 5 Racing "' Car No. 20 and 21 "' Gavin Thomas and Ben Morgan:


Red 5 emerge from the ashes of Computrac with Gavin Thomas spear heading the project. Thomas had a torrid start to the 2011 season with no ends of issues with the BMW engine. After calming his temperament and asking the correct questions, Thomas made some very positive progress that he hopes to carry through the 2012 season.


Ben Morgan is a driver that also struggled at the start of '11 but came to fore towards the end of the season. Scraping competitively in the midfield, Morgan is hoping to lift Red 5 to new summits.


ST Racing "' Car No. 18 and 19 " Tom Eley and Mark Fuller:


ST Racing has been one of the shocks of the winter season. The team have stamped real authority on their 2012 ambitions by signing the exceptionally talented; Tom Eley. A talent that has a lot of experience and knowledge while competing in the top echelons of Sim Racing.


Fuller will be going in to '12 with a lot of anticipation. Keen to learn from Eley, it will be no surprise to see Fuller progress up the field and knock on the door of the podium positions.


Constant Racing "' Car No. 16 and 17 "' Mark Stanton and David Stanton:


One of the worst kept secrets in pit-lane and no real surprise, we see the Stanton brothers' team up to take on the 2012 season. Some fantastic qualifying sessions from both drivers in the 2011 season are now looking to develop themselves and their car in to a race winner. Both brothers have shown that they are very capable drivers and will want to see the podium.


Synergetic Motorsport "' Car No. 14 and 15 "' Ojay Clark and Liam Hatchell:


The Synergetic team were one of the first to sign drivers. Ojay Clark's services were snapped up promptly at the end of the 2011 season by the team management. Clark has impressed throughout '11 with some great qualifying results matched with converted race results. 2012 looks very bright for Clark as he attempts to take Synergetic back up the grid.


Hatchell had a difficult 2011. Blighted with many technical issues he will hope to draw a line under the season and start a fresh. His race craft may be a little rusty at the start but his experience should help him reacclimatise.


Hawkeye Racing "' Car No. 11 and 12 "' Bart de Vos and Lewis Redshaw:


Hawkeye's aspirations have been echoed in there driver line-up, they mean business. Towards the end of 2011, De Vos became a highly talked about driver. Some stunning drives and results saw his reputation gain massively. Hawkeye were sharp eyed enough to sign de Vos services for '12 campaign in the hope he delivers more results like those of 2011. De Vos a prospect for an outside shot of the 2012 GPVWC title.


Lewis Redshaw is another driver the cropped up in the winter season after impressing in the GPVWC Race of Champions. Redshaw showed his raw talent at the event and the management wanted his services.


Woods Racing "' Car No. 9 and 10 "' Kieran Ryan and Tom Parker:


Last season was very tough for Woods Racing due to a wrong turn in development. Ryan stays on for another season and has been duly rewarded with becoming the lead driver. Ryan has a wealth of knowledge and will hope to guide the team back to the glory days of 2010.


A lot of speculation surrounded Tom Parker after a couple of good practice sessions for Nordsjoen in 2011 had increased his value. Woods have taken the option to sign Parker as he hopes to prove his worth in a full time drive this season. 


Midnight Motorsport "' Car No. 7 and 8 "' Lukas Euler and Nick Rowland:


Midnight enters their second season after a difficult 2011. Dave Carr-Smith has departed the team but have recruited the highly talented, Lukas Euler, a driver that comes from a similar background as Tom Eley. Euler has raced in the top echelons of Sim Racing while becoming a very quick and established driver. Euler is poised to challenge for the title in his first season.


Nick Rowland hopes to carry across the good form from the end of '11 through in to '12. Difficult spells have caused inconsistency in the driver and hopes to rectify that in 2012 and be a true team player. Another driver that is hoping to see the podium steps this year.


Draig Racing "' Car No. 5 and 6 "' Lee Morris and Ryan Walker:


Draig endured a gruelling season in 2011. Started stunningly well but tapered off due to financial constraints. Morris and Walker are both retained for the 2012 season as they look to develop a better relationship within the team. The spritely character that is Morris will be firmly in the championship hunt as he looks to finally clinch an elusive title.


Walker has improved tenfold under Morris's tuition and can only get stronger. A solid winter season has closely been followed and tipped for great things in 2012. Podiums are a very real chance for the Scotsman as the Draig team look for stability.


Red Archer Virtual Racing Team "' Car No. 3 and 4 "' David Jundt and Gregg Lawson:


Red Archer was the outstanding team of 2011. Repeating that in 2012 is going to be very difficult. David Jundt has rightly been retained after bringing the car home in some excellent podium positions and a driver that wants the number one spot on the podium.


Gregg Lawson was drafted in towards the end of 2011 and faith has been put in the driver with a full time drive in 2012. Lawson took some time learning and developing in to the car but with a winter break under his belt will come back revitalised and wanting to show his mettle.


Nordsjoen Racing "' Car No. 1 and 2 "' Joe Consiglio and Pavel Loknovski:


The world champion is retained by Nordsjoen to defend his crown. Many put the Nordsjoen car behind the Red Archer last year but Consiglio showed his raw talent and brought the title home. Both car and team blend in harmony allowing Consiglio to defend his crown in what has to be the bookies favourite for the title.


Loknovski was the forgotten son somewhat in Nordsjoen. Not dubbed as the quickest in the field, the team hope that he can silence his critics and show the speed he has shown in the team previously. A solid second driver and cannot write off a few podiums.


The 2012 season has taken a wonderful shape in the past few weeks. This look at the drivers shows that the 2012 season could very well just be, the greatest GPVWC season ever.