BIC, Sakhir: Twenty-six drivers representing all 13 teams in the GP2 Series on Wednesday began three days of official pre-season testing at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.
Tests are taking place over two sessions on each day. On Wednesday and Thursday, the morning runs will be held from 9am to 12noon, to be followed by the afternoon tests from 2pm to 5pm. On the final day on Friday, the afternoon session will be held between 1pm and 4pm.
Testing at BIC is the second of the pre-season for GP2. They earlier tested in Abu Dhabi last month, and a majority of the field is back for some more time in their challengers.
The GP2 Series is gearing up for the start of its 2015 season, which will also be held in Bahrain later this month in support of this year’s Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix. Each team is expected to run with both their cars on each day.
GP2 is highly regarded as the chief feeder series to Formula One.
More than 60 drivers have over the years received the chance to drive a Formula One car as a result of their time in GP2. Eight drivers from this season’s Formula One grid are GP2 graduates, including five former GP2 champions in Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Nico Hulkenberg, Pastor Maldonado and Romain Grosjean.
There are 10 rounds for the 2015 GP2 season. Each event will be supporting a Formula One Grand Prix.
The other supporting championship during Bahrain’s Formula One weekend will be the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East. The GT3 Cup will be holding the final round of its 2014/2015 season in support of the Grand Prix.
Both the GP2 Series and the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East will have two races each during the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend.