Following the Formula 1 race at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi two weeks ago, the Formula 1, GP2 and GP3 series arranged a multiple day end of season test for up and coming drivers to test the larger machinery. From 27-29 November, Thailand’s Sandy Stuvik tested in the GP2 Series, the first day with Italian Team Rapax and the last two days with the French ART Team.
The Thai driver, being one of the youngest in this field, learnt much from driving the 4 liter V8 powered 620 HP GP2 car, and harvested a large amount of information from the onboard telemetric systems, to allow him to work more on his personal preparation to handle these very powerful cars.
Thailand’s EuroFormula Open Formula 3 champion, Sandy Stuvik.
Last month Stuvik also tested the slightly less powered World Series by Renault 3.5 liter cars for 2 days at Motorland Circuit in Spain with Pons Racing. The WSR and GP2 are the two main recruiting levels for drivers moving to Formula 1. Inherently difficult to drive competitively, the drivers usually need several years of preparation and testing to be able to fight for the top in these cars.
Stuvik himself said after completing three gruelling days of testing,”This was 3 very tough days and although I have trained non-stop for this, I struggled a bit on the last day. The cars are extremely physical to drive, with loads up towards 4G in almost every corner and huge acceleration and deceleration capabilities. It is a lot of fun to drive, but our focus both for the WSR and this GP2 test has been to learn where and how we must improve to be competitive in the series next season. The objective is to win and to do this we need to learn.”
Stuvik tackles the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi.
The Thai driving protégé continued, “Considering that almost all the other drivers here are regular drivers from WSR and GP2, I do feel very much the rookie, but I will come back stronger. I want to thank my sponsors Singha, the Pizza Company and Dacon Inspection Services for giving a Thai kid a chance to reach this level, it is their enormous support that makes it possible for us to fly the Thai flag high and hear the Thai National Anthem at racing circuits around the world. Thank you”.
Having recently won the EuroFormula Open Formula 3 Championship, Stuvik is actively looking for his next step up the ladder towards becoming Thailand’s first Formula 1 driver in modern times.
