The F1 Academy will go back underway this weekend at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, one of the most classic destinations for junior single-seaters and racing in general. The 4.7-kilometre track is a great learning ground for the drivers as they continue their developmental path throughout the third round of 2023.
Marta Garcia will line up as the benchmark for the second consecutive round in her native Spain after Valencia. The 22-year-old racer is leading the driver standings with three wins and three poles to her credit. She already raced a few times in Catalunya, so she will be looking forward to continuing her run.
Fresh from her maiden win in junior single-seater at Valencia, which added to a podium in the Red Bull Ring opener, Bianca Bustamante is looking to improve her championship position. The 18-year-old Filipino driver will compete on a track she also knows since her W Series days.
The youngest of the PREMA stable, Chloe Chong, will continue to go through her rookie learning curve. The 16-year-old British-Canadian already achieved two points finishes in her first two racing weekends and sits 11th in the Championship standings with her sights on the top 10.
The weather might also come into play as rain is forecasted for the whole weekend. For the PREMA Racing drivers, that will be an additional challenge but also a valuable learning experience.
Rene Rosin – Team Principal
“Barcelona is one of the most popular tracks across the single-seater ladder all the way to F1. On one hand, it will offer a great learning opportunity, but there are many teams and drivers that have good experience there so competition is always tight and the weekend might be challenging for those who have less mileage. However, the goal for this championship is driver development, and there is no better learning opportunity, especially considering that we might run in a variety of weather conditions, with plenty of variables to experience and try to master.”