Mitch Evans is ready for his GP2 debut

The GP2 Series returns to Sky Sports F1 this weekend with the first two races of the 2013 season at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.

Having clinched the GP3 title with MW Arden, Evans will remain with Christian Horner's team for his graduation to GP2, something he feels has made the step easier. "It has definitely made things easier because I know the team, so from that side of things it has made it a lot smoother," the Kiwi added. "We did have other options with other teams and I tested for another team last year, but I am happy to be where I am. It makes sense to stay with Arden for my first year in GP2 until I get the hang of it." The 18-year-old took the GP3 title in a scenario that would not have looked out of place in a Hollywood blockbuster. Evans headed to Monza leading the Championship and duly qualified on pole, but it all went wrong at turn 1 when he was forced across the inside of the chicane and broke his steering, forcing him out of the race. That coupled with a victory for Daniel Abt meant the title came down to the final race. The Kiwi started plum last in 25th and worked his way into the points, setting fastest lap along the before a puncture forced him back to limp back to the pits. With Abt leading, the title seemed destined to go to the German until Tio Ellinas edged ahead with two laps to go, meaning Evans won the title by just two points. "Everything was going through my mind and I can tell you now it wasn't pretty," the Arden driver said. "The emotional rollercoaster that I had to go through was pretty horrible and quite incredible. We came through the field and I unfortunately got hit as I was passing for seventh - the TV footage doesn't show it but I do get hit going down the main straight and my right rear got cut. By the time I got to the second chicane the car was basically undriveable and the car was going all over the place which looked pretty bad. "So that was heart-breaking as I had worked my way up to seventh and had taken the points for fastest lap as well and it was all looking good and then that happened and I was thinking 'this cannot be happening right now!' Fortunately Tio saved the day for me when he passed Daniel - he was a bit of a life saver." That experience seems to have help Evans mature as a driver, something that shows when he is asked about when he sees himself in F1. "In a perfect world two years," he said. "I would use this year as a learning year and then come back stronger and challenge for the Championship and hopefully win it - that is how I did it in GP3. "But you never know, I might have an amazing year and be in F1 next year, or it could be three years, or I could blow and it might never happen."