Thai driving protégé Sandy Stuvik has decided, after discussion with his sponsors, to stay one more season at the Formula 3 level to gain additional experience before moving up to the highly competitive GP2 category. Stuvik will again race with the Italian RP Motorsport squad in the recently renamed Euroformula Open series, utilizing the Dallara Formula 3 chassis with Toyota supplied engines. The series specifications have been upgraded since last year with faster engines and better performing tires.
The Thai racer was very competitive in the European Formula 3 Open series during last season and considering the huge learning curve that the formula 3 platform offers on the F1 circuits in Europe, Stuvik and his team considered this to be the best direction to prepare him for a successful transition to top level racing on his way to Formula 1.
Stuvik was the winner of the Winter Cup Euro Formula Open race at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France on March 1, 2014.
Stuvik said of his decision: “I am excited to race another season in F3, as this is a very competitive car which I now am starting to know well. This year the organizers have increased the engine power and we have faster tires, so overall in testing we have been 2-3 seconds faster than last season. During the official season warm up for the winter race at Paul Ricard at the beginning of March, I managed to set pole position, fastest lap and win the race, which is the best way to kick off the season. During March and April I have been testing at Catalunya, Spa, Nurbürgring, Hungaroring and Monza.”
Besides the testing sessions around Europe, Stuvik devoted all available time to attending the Shape Driver development center in Italy, where mental and physical coaching at the highest athletic level is offered to F1 and F3 level drivers.
“I feel really well prepared for the first round of the season and I appreciate all cheers from my Thai fan club,” Stuvik added.
The Euroformula Open series starts this weekend May 3-4 at the Nurbürgring circuit in Germany.
Sandy Stuvik tests out his new Dallara Formula 3 car in preparation for the new season.
