After having placed second in the final point standings of the Formula Two Championship last season, Canadian Robert Wickens , who has lost the support of Red Bull faces a new challenge this year as he will contest the maiden season of the new GP3 series.
The Toronto-born Wickens is fully optimistic. “I am about to start a new chapter in my racing career,” said Wickens to Auto123.com .
“Despite finishing the season second in the standings, it has been quite frustrating for me in Formula Two,” said Wickens. “I started the season on a winning note but then experienced a series of mechanical woes and on-track incidents that prevented me from clinching the title. I have switched series and my objective is to take the title in the new GP3 series”.
The GP2 series is new this season. It represents the newest step in the development ladder set up by the GP2 organisers. The chassis has been designed and made by Dallara, and the engine is a two-litre, four-cylinder motor developed by Renault that produces 280 horsepower.
In the first two pre-season tests held on the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit in France, Wickens was amongst the quickest in the field.
“After last year in the Formula Two series, the next logical step was to race in the GP2 series this season,” Wickens continued.
“But the loss of Red Bull forced me to change my plans. That’s why I decided to switch to the GP3 series. I now have the support of Sitka (a sport clothing manufacturer based in British Columbia, Canada). The first two tests went very well as I was in the top 5 in every session. However, there’s still work to do on the car before the season starts,” Wickens explained.
The drivers of the GP3 series will have two more days of testing before the season starts in Barcelona, Spain in conjunction with the Formula 1 Grand Prix on May 8 and 9.
photo: GP3 Series
The Toronto-born Wickens is fully optimistic. “I am about to start a new chapter in my racing career,” said Wickens to Auto123.com .
“Despite finishing the season second in the standings, it has been quite frustrating for me in Formula Two,” said Wickens. “I started the season on a winning note but then experienced a series of mechanical woes and on-track incidents that prevented me from clinching the title. I have switched series and my objective is to take the title in the new GP3 series”.
The GP2 series is new this season. It represents the newest step in the development ladder set up by the GP2 organisers. The chassis has been designed and made by Dallara, and the engine is a two-litre, four-cylinder motor developed by Renault that produces 280 horsepower.
In the first two pre-season tests held on the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit in France, Wickens was amongst the quickest in the field.
“After last year in the Formula Two series, the next logical step was to race in the GP2 series this season,” Wickens continued.
“But the loss of Red Bull forced me to change my plans. That’s why I decided to switch to the GP3 series. I now have the support of Sitka (a sport clothing manufacturer based in British Columbia, Canada). The first two tests went very well as I was in the top 5 in every session. However, there’s still work to do on the car before the season starts,” Wickens explained.
The drivers of the GP3 series will have two more days of testing before the season starts in Barcelona, Spain in conjunction with the Formula 1 Grand Prix on May 8 and 9.
photo: GP3 Series