The FIA Formula 2 Championship will go back underway at Circuit de Catalunya
Seven days after making the trip to Monte Carlo, the FIA Formula 2 Championship will go back underway at Circuit de Catalunya, one of the most technically challenging and representative venues of the whole season. The Trident Motorsport drivers will aim to confirm their growth and be back to the points zone at the Spanish circuit.
Leaving the enchanting Monte Carlo scene, the FIA Formula 2 is set for the second European race on the calendar, the first on a permanent circuit. From the treacherous streets of Monaco, the F2 moves to the Catalan ups and downs of Barcelona for round 6 of 2023. The circuit measures 4,657 meters and is certainly not among the longest of the season, but it is extremely complete and a genuine test bed for assessing car performance. The Spanish facility offers a wide range of corners of different speeds and shapes, requiring a perfect balance between mechanical and aerodynamic grip. It also has two long straight.
In the third sector, the pace will become smoother. The chicane heading into the final corner has been abandoned, and the layout used until 2006 will be reintroduced, with a fast bend that leads onto a 1,047-meter-long straight. Lap times, therefore, are set to fall. The FIA Formula 2 Championship cars held three days of collective testing there on May 10 to 12 as a preparation for the event, allowing teams and drivers to work on their set-up solutions.
Clément Novalak and Roman Stanek are coming to Spain highly motivated. The driver from Avignon was involved in contact in the early stages of the Feature Race at Monte Carlo, jeopardizing the main race of the weekend. On the other hand, the 19-year-old driver originally from the Czech Republic finished the Monaco Feature Race in P7, achieving his best result of the season. The Trident Motorsport drivers have prepared the Montmeló race with great care and are ready to line up there with high focus and determination. Not only is the track very technical, but external factors such as wind or extremely high temperatures often intervene and contribute to making the race on Spanish soil extremely challenging and affected by tire degradation.
Giacomo Ricci, Team Manager: "Barcelona is always very important for teams. After a series of rounds held on city tracks, where driver experience and single episodes can make the difference, we're back to racing on a circuit where the values on the field can genuinely emerge. In Monte Carlo, we claimed our best score of the season, with the seventh spot achieved by Staněk. That result gives provided the Czech rookie and the team with a boost of confidence. Novalak has more experience being in his second year in the category, and we are certain that he will be able to express himself at the levels he deserves in Catalunya. The preparation work for the race in Barcelona has been very accurate, we are looking forward to a result that can become a turning point for our season".
The FIA Formula 2 Championship will get underway on Friday at 11:05 with a single 45-minute free practice session. Qualifying is scheduled for the same day at 13.55. The Sprint Race will be on Saturday at 14:15. The Feature Race, which will conclude the weekend, will start at 11.25 on Sunday. All activity on track will be broadcasted by the Sky Sports networks.