On Spanish soil, the Trident Motorsport drivers are looking to continue their solid start in the F2 championship. After a one-year hiatus from the venue, the FIA Formula 2 Championship will return this weekend to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, one of the most technical of the season.
A month away from the previous round at Imola, the FIA Formula 2 Championship will appear in Europe for the second time this season. Moving forward from Imola, the F2 circus will land in Catalonia, in one of the most technical and challenging locations of the entire series. Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is 4.655 kilometers long and is therefore considered an ideal test destination.
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The Spanish circuit has a great variety of corners in terms of speeds and layouts, and it requires a perfect balance between aero and mechanics. In addition, it also features several straights. The third sector, which is quite slow, is often the key to a fast overall lap time, and the driver who takes pole is often not the fastest in all three sectors.
The FIA Formula 2 Championship hosted a three-day collective session in Catalonia from March 12-14, ahead of this weekend’s event. Richard Verschoor and Calan Williams then drove the 4th and 13th fastest lap respectively. The Dutch driver, who took Trident Motorsport to a stunning win in the series opener in Sakhir and second on lap 2 in Jeddah, is fifth in the drivers’ standings, just three points from P3. The 21-year-old racer is willing to forget the fateful Imola weekend where he failed to improve his standing position. Rookie Calan Williams, who finished fifth in Jeddah, hopes to take another valuable step in what has so far been consistent growth in terms of performance.
Trident Motorsport drivers have undergone a thorough preparation for the Montmelò weekend and will be determined and focused. Not only is the track particularly technical, but external factors such as the wind or high temperatures can make the track even richer in variables.
Giacomo Ricci, team manager: “The event in Barcelona requires maximum concentration and determination. The track is very challenging and external conditions such as heat and wind can help make the task even more complex for the drivers and technical staff as they try to find the best balance in terms of last March’s test session allows us to a good knowledge of the circuit to arrive in Montmelò, although we will encounter a different environmental situation. We have prepared meticulously to help our drivers achieve their goals and our position among the teams. I am sure there is potential to get a good result in Catalunya, but we will have to give 100 percent!”
The action of the FIA Formula 2 Championship kicks off Friday at 11:35 a.m. for the 45-minute free practice session. Qualifying will take place later the same day at 6:30 PM, while the Sprint Race will start at 5:40 PM on Saturday. The main race will conclude at 11:35 a.m. on Sunday.