Liam Lawson will participate in the Formula 2 post-season test in Bahrain, one week after the series finale.
The rising Kiwi star will step into one of the two Hitech GP cars, the same team he contested his sophomore Formula 3 season with this year.
Lawson put in his most complete F3 season to date this year, scoring three race wins and three further podiums to finish fifth in the standings.
It is understood that Lawson will make the promotion to the second-tier formula next year. Hitech are set to lose its current line-up of Nikita Mazepin and Luca Ghiotto with Lawson and Juri Vips the likely replacements.
The test will be staged in the Skahir Grand Prix circuit as opposed to the Outer ‘oval’ layout used for the final round of the 2020 F2 season two days before the start of the test.
Lawson will have eight sets of tyres available over the three days with Pirelli bringing its harder compound for each driver.
“My focus is totally on the opportunity to test the car and learning as much as I can over the three days. It’s not a huge step up from Formula 3 in some ways but it is a totally different car,” said Lawson.
“Double the power, more aero and it weighs more so the driving style will be completely different.”
The notable differences between the F3 and F2 machinery are the latter runs a turbocharged version of the V6 power unit. Lawson will also have to adapt to the 18-inch wheel rims.
The larger rim size was intriduced into to F2 at the start of the year, and the lower tyre profile has caused several headaches among drivers.
The way the power comes in is a lot different and you can’t be too aggressive coming out of slow speed corners when you’re also trying to look after the tyres.”
Lawson scored 85% of Hitech’s 2020 F3 points haul and undoubtedly the most impressive member of the team’s trio of drivers.
Hitech GP owner Oliver Oakes says the F2 test is a reward for Lawson’s tireless work over the last season and is excited to see how he fares in an all-new challenge.
“I am looking forward to have Liam test with us at the post-season Formula 2 test. He had a strong year with us in F3 fighting for the championship until the final round, despite some unlucky DNF’s hurting his title aspirations,” said Oakes.
“Liam has very much become part of the Hitech family so it is a natural graduation for him to try the car with the view of stepping up in ’21.”
Lawson leaves for Bahrain on Tuesday. He will be joined at the circuit by current F3 champion Oscar Piastri and French driver Theo Pourchaire.
Twenty-two cars are slated to take part in the test, with the full entry list to be confirmed shortly.
Comments 2