BIC to host three days of in-season testing for F2 and F3 championships this week in Sakhir

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), ‘The Home of Motorsport in the Middle East’, will be hosting three days of in-season testing this week for the FIA Formula 2 Championship and the FIA Formula 3 Championship.

The tests are scheduled to take place from Wednesday to Friday behind closed doors in Sakhir.

These in-season sessions are being held between the first and second rounds on both series’ 2025 calendars.

The two Formula 1 feeder championships flagged off their campaigns in Melbourne, Australia earlier this month, and both are set to headline the support race programme in the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2025, taking place 11 to 13 April at BIC. It will be the second round of their respective seasons.

The tests will take place from morning to night with two separatae sessions for each series over the three days, making for running in both daylight conditions and at night under lights. F3 will be first on track from 9.30am to 12noon and then again from 3.15pm to 5.45pm. F2’s running will be from 12.30pm to 3pm and then from 6.30pm to 9pm.

There will be no spectators throughout the three days of in-season testing.

F2 is currently in its ninth season and it has produced readymade talent for F1. In recent years, current F1 stars who have made the step up from F2 are Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Alexander Albon, Yuki Tsunoda, Oscar Piastri, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman, Jack Doohan, Isack Hadjar, Liam Lawson, and Gabriel Bortoleto.

For F3, the 2025 season is the start of a brand-new era, with the latest Dallara-built car. It is more closely in line with both F2 and F1 in terms of safety, systems, and performance. On top of that, the new car runs on Aramco’s advanced fuel, which is being developed to the FIA’s 100% sustainable fuel standard.

F2 and F3 will have two races apiece over the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2025, with their Sprint Races set for the Saturday and the Feature Races on the Sunday. The support series programme also features the Bahrain-based Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East.

Joshua Durksen of AIX Racing took the victory in the Sprint Race in Melbourne, where the Feature Race was cancelled due to inclement weather.

In F3, Santiago Ramos of Van Amersfoort Racing claimed the chequered flag in the Sprint Race, while Rafael Camara of Trident won the Feature.

All those wishing to be a part of this year’s F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix must act fast if they have yet to secure their tickets. BIC’s Main Grandstand is already completely sold out and there is very limited availability for the circuit’s Turn 1, Beyon, University, and Victory grandstands.