Motorsport Roundup: Formula 2 And Formula 3 Barcelona Test, M-Sport Sets Sights On Dakar Rally And More

While there wasn’t any racing going on these last seven days, there were plenty of topics that made the headlines. This included in-season tests for Formula 2 and Formula 3, a WRC team announcing its intent to take on the prestigious Dakar rally, and a carmaker taking full control over a Formula E team. Here’s everything that transpired:

Formula 2

 

Considering the fairly long gap between races, the teams and drivers of Formula got the opportunity to shrug the rust off and get back up to speed at the three-day in-season test in Barcelona. Over the course of the three-day test, Jehan Daruvala, the sole Indian driver on the grid, managed to set the seventh quickest time for Prema Racing. But of course, this is testing, so there are plenty of variables such as track conditions, fuel loads and tyre compounds, which don’t give a true representation of the pecking order. You won’t have to wait too long before racing gets back underway with the third round of the season in Imola taking place between April 22-24.

Formula 3

Alongside Formula 2, the Formula 3 grid was also at Barcelona for a two-day in-season test. Kush Maini set the fourth quickest time on the final day for MP Motorsport. The season will resume at Imola, scheduled to run from April 22-24.

Dakar

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We all know M-Sport as the British-based, semi-factory Ford back team, competing in the FIA World Rally Championship. But the squad is now setting its sights on tackling the Dakar Rally by announcing a joint venture with renowned rally raid car manufacturer, Neil Woolridge Motorsport (NWM). Like M-Sport, NWM will also celebrate 25 years of collaboration with Ford. In this joint venture, M-Sport will become NWM’s European HQ and global distributor for the NWM Ford Ranger T1+ vehicle.

Formula E

The Renault-Nissan group came to Formula E in 2014 with e.dams running the operational side of things. After over seven years and the name changing from Renault e.dams to Nissan e.dams, the group has now decided to take full control over the Formula E operation as it commits to the Gen3 era. The Formula E Gen3 car is set to be unveiled on April 28. 

Following this quiet week in motorsports, we’ll be back in action with Formula One, Formula 2 and Formula 3 at Imola. MotoGP will go racing at Portimao, whereas the WRC season will resume at Rally Croatia.