Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), “The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East”, is all set to host official pre-season testing over three days for the FIA Formula 2 Championship.
The tests are part of the series’ preparations for the start of the 2018 season. They are scheduled to be held from tomorrow to Friday , all day, at BIC in Sakhir.
The Bahrain sessions are the second official pre-season tests of Formula 2. The first was in Le Castellet, France at Circuit Paul Ricard earlier this month.
All 10 Formula 2 teams are scheduled to be taking part in Bahrain. Testing will be done in the brand new Formula 2 2018 chassis. Earlier, an initial shakedown took place at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, also in France.
The new Formula 2 season will be flagging off in the kingdom, in support of the Formula 1 2018 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix from April 6 to 8.
Formula 2 is widely accepted to be the chief feeder series to Formula 1, with many of its graduates moving on to the pinnacle of motor racing after honing their skills at this level.
There will be two races at the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, including a feature race on the Saturday followed by a sprint race on the Sunday of the event.
The new campaign is set to feature 12 rounds in all, with each meeting running in conjunction with a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Grid
There will be 20 cars on the grid representing 10 teams, including ART Grand Prix, Russian Time, Pertamina Prema Theodore Racing, DAMS, MP Motorsport, Trident, BWT Arden, Campos Vexatec Racing, Carlin and Charouz Racing System.
Last year’s drivers’ champion, Monegasque Charles Leclerc, has since joined Formula 1 team Sauber. Having won with Prema Racing, he continues the tradition of successful Formula 2 drivers moving up to the top of the motorsport ladder. Prema Racing are now known as Pertamina Prema Theodore Racing.
Last year’s teams’ champions, Russian Time, also return, this time with the 2017 drivers’ runner-up Artem Markelov occupying the no. 1 car.
Of the 10 teams, two are new for 2018. They are Carlin from the UK and Czech outfit Charouz Racing System.
Following Bahrain, the 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship calendar includes rounds in Azerbaijan, Spain, Monaco, France, Austria, Great Britain, Hungary, Belgium, Italy, Russia and the UAE.
The FIA Formula 2 Championship is one of two support series to Formula 1 at this year’s Bahrain Grand Prix. The other is the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East.
Tickets to the Bahrain Grand Prix can be purchased at the BIC stand at Bahrain City Centre. They can also be bought online at www.bahraingp.com or by calling the BIC Hotline on +973-17-450000. The prices are amongst the most competitive for any event on the Formula 1 calendar, with prices held at the same level for the fifth consecutive year.
Tickets can be purchased for seating at the Main Grandstand, Batelco Grandstand, Turn One Grandstand, University Grandstands and Victory Grandstands. Main Grandstand seats cost BD150 each for the three days, while Batelco Grandstand tickets are BD120 and Turn One tickets BD100. University and Victory Grandstand tickets cost BD60.
For the first time, fans will be able to purchase a single Friday ticket for the Batelco Grandstand at BD60, or they can buy a two-day ticket for Saturday and Sunday, also for the Batelco Grandstand for BD100.
For further information on events at BIC, visit bahraingp.com or call the BIC Hotline on +973-17-450000.