Photo: LAT Images
W Series has announced that the pre-season test for its second season will take place at Valencia Ricardo Tormo on May 4-5.
All 18 of the drivers confirmed to be racing in the series this year will be present, with Formula 2 and Formula 3 team Hitech GP continuing to centrally run all cars on behalf of the series.
The pre-season test for last year’s inaugural season was held at the Lausitzring over three days with no publicly released lap times, continuing a controversial approach of secrecy that surrounded the build-up to the series getting underway.
?Valencia isn?t part of the 2020 W Series race calendar, but it?s perfectly suited to testing F3 cars,” said W Series racing director Dave Ryan.
“A tight and twisty circuit, 2.488 miles [4.005km] in length, it consists of one long straight and 14 corners, of which Turn 1, an 80-degree left-hander that requires precise but heavy braking, is perhaps the trickiest.
?A comparatively modern circuit, built in 1999, it used to be a regular test track for Formula 1 teams. Anthony Davidson holds the unofficial lap record ? 1min 8.540sec ? which he set while testing a Honda RA106 Formula 1 car in 2006.
“Obviously, W Series cars aren?t capable of matching that kind of pace, but I nonetheless hope and expect to see some impressive performances from our drivers, both old and new.?
The W Series season begins later in May at Igora Drive in Russia, and follows the DTM for its first six rounds before ending its season in Formula 1’s support paddock at the United States Grand Prix and renamed Mexico City GP.