GP2 lacks spark on debut.

The all-new GP2 Series limped on to the international stage at Imola, as the latest in a line of mechanical ills struck at the heart of the field in free practice.

In all, some 16 of the 24 cars were understood to have been affected by one reliability problem or another, with electrical gremlins thought to account for the vast majority. Racing Engineering and ART Grand Prix each had one car that failed to take part in the only pre-qualifying session, with Borja Garcia and Nico Rosberg left stranded, but they got off lightly as both DAMS and DPR failed to complete a lap with either of their cars. Others managed just one or two laps.

DPR confirmed that its particular problem was electrical, with the finger of blame finally pointing to a revised system designed to prevent vital fuses overheating. A breaker solution installed since the last Barcelona group test is thought to have been poorly sited, with heat from the exhausts causing it too to overheat, throwing the circuit and halting the cars.

"The team thought it was something that it had done wrong," a DPR spokesperson told Crash.net, "but we were only the first to have the problem. When other cars stopped with similar problems, we knew it was something a little more serious."

There have been rumours of late that several issues with the machinery - particularly overheating, faulty electrics and troublesome gearboxes - will be addressed by redesigns, but the changes obviously could not be achieved in times for the opening round. Among those teams under scrutiny is the wiring loom, which has caused problems at most of the pre-season tests.

The DPR team finally managed to qualify for the first of this weekend's two race in 13th and 15th positions, the former a notable effort from Olivier Pla, who had never visited Imola before practice, and was then denied a chance to learn the layout when his car failed in the pits.