GP3 grad to get GP2 race

Pirelli will give an additional prize payout to the highest-placed GP3 graduates finishing in the points in the one-off GP2 Final event in Abu Dhabi in November.

GP2 announced earlier this week that it would merge its Asia series into the main championship, with a single standalone final event alongside the Formula 1 season finale this season.

With many GP3 graduates likely to step up to the senior championship for the meeting, Pirelli will offer 15,000 euros to the 2011 GP3 driver with the best finish in the event and 10,000 euros to the second-best - provided both finish within the points-scoring positions (top eight in race one, top six in race two).

"The 2011 GP2 Final is the perfect opportunity for young drivers and among them GP3 racers to have their first taste of a GP2 race weekend, and prove their worth in front of the F1 paddock and the rest of the GP2 field," GP2 CEO Bruno Michel said.

"The fact that our official partner Pirelli offers prize money to the two best points finishing GP3 graduates will most definitely spice things up even more."