De Vries goes fastest

Manama : Nyck de Vries topped the third and final day of Formula 2 pre-season testing yesterday at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.

The Rapax man had a fastest lap of one minute 40.583 seconds to claim first place on the overall classification of times. His best mark came in the morning, when he was one of seven drivers to finish within 1:40.000.

De Vries also had the best lap of the slower afternoon session, which he set at 1:41.880.

A total of 20 cars took to the tarmac for the last day of pre-season tests in Bahrain. The F2 field now prepares for the start of their new season, to be held April 14 to 16 at BIC in support of this year’s Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.

Finishing  second-fastest for the day was Oliver Rowland of DAMS (1:40.590), while Nobuharu Matsushita of ART Grand Prix (1:40.618) was third.

Day two leader Nicholas Latifi of DAMS (1:40.679) was fourth, Antonio Fuoco of Prema Racing (1:40.780) was fifth and Alexander Albon of ART (1:40.844) sixth.

Day one pace-setter Charles Leclerc of Prema Racing was the seventh fastest man of the day and the last man to dip under 1:41.000.

With Formula 2 pre-season testing now complete, the focus turns back towards the start of the 2017 championship at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

This year marks the 13th season of the championship. Following the season-opener in Bahrain, action will return to Europe with the second round in Barcelona from May 12 to 14, before moving to Monte Carlo from May 25 to 27 and going on to Baku in Azerbaijan four weeks later.

July will see three events, starting with Spielberg back-to-back with Silverstone on July 7 to 9 and then July 14 to 16, respectively.

Budapest will host the seventh round of the season on July 28-30 before a summer break.

Action will resumes at Spa-Francorchamps on August 25-27 back-to-back with Monza on September 1 to 3, follow by the 10th round of the season

at Jerez de la Frontera from October 6 to 8, while the final event will be held at Yas Marina on November 24 to 26 alongside the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix.