February 28, 2025

 

The anticipation for the 2025 GPVWC Formula Sprint 2 season ramped up as teams and drivers took to the track for the official pre-season test at Imola.
With fresh lineups, new challengers, and plenty of unknowns, the grid showcased a mix of rookie talent, seasoned veterans, and ambitious teams looking to establish themselves as serious contenders.

Ben Skinner Sets the Benchmark

As the sun set on an intense day of testing, it was Team RNG's Ben Skinner who topped the timesheets with a blistering 1:35.475. Skinner, who returns for his second season in FS2, looked comfortable in the car, showing strong consistency and pace across multiple stints.

James Knox (Excelion) came closest to dethroning Skinner, finishing just 0.123 seconds behind in P2. Knox's rapid short-run pace suggests that Excelion could be a real force this season, with teammate Kert Rohtjarv also placing inside the top ten. Kaspar Koorits (RGS Racing) completed the top three, further underlining his potential after an impressive 2024 campaign. James Knox said 'I feel strong again this year. Looking at the top ten, anyone in that group could win it. It's going to be tough, but I'll give it my best. We'll see what happens.'

Early Indicators: Teams to Watch

With the pecking order still taking shape, several teams stood out during testing:

Scuderia KAP Clay - The Finnish outfit, fourth in last year's standings, once again showed promise, with Mikael Tuomaala and Junio Lopes both finishing inside the top seven. The team has consistently been among the best in FS2, and 2025 could be their breakthrough year.

Priority 1 Esports - After a strong 2024 that saw Craig Patteson finish third overall, the Guernsey-based squad looked solid, with Patteson and Joonas Kaurala completing plenty of laps to prepare for the season. While they weren't the fastest, their long-run pace looked strong. Craig Patteson said 'Can I beat P3? Oh, that's a good one. That'll be tough. I feel strong again this year. Looking at the top ten, anyone in that group could win it. It's going to be tough, but I'll give it my best. We'll see what happens.'

Hunter Burch Simulation (HBS) - The British team has recruited well, adding Magnus Okkenhaug to partner Joe Gillett, and both drivers looked comfortable throughout testing. Gillett, a race winner in 2024, will be aiming for even bigger results this season.

Excelion Motorsport - With James Knox and Kert Rohtjarv, the team has a strong one-two punch in its lineup. Both drivers set competitive lap times, reinforcing the team's potential to fight for podiums this season.

Team RNG - With Skinner setting the fastest lap of the day, the team looks to have made strides from last year. Thijs Jongstra, their second driver, also showed promise in the midfield, completing 50 laps.

Midfield Battle: Who Stands Out?

While the front-runners made their presence known, the midfield battle looks set to be as competitive as ever.

Filip Czerwinski (Potentia Grand Prix) and Joonas Kaurala (Priority 1 Esports) were separated by just 0.01 seconds, indicating an extremely tight battle for the lower points positions.
Josh Flynn (Freccia Nera) and Domenico Scarpelli (Potentia GP) also impressed, running long race simulations and showing good reliability.

Venus Motorsports, the first all-female team in GPVWC history, made a strong debut, with Charlotte Mennink and Caitlin Penny focusing on race setup rather than outright lap times. Team boss Alice Stone described her ambitions for the team, saying 'We're excited to take on this challenge. GPVWC is a very competitive series that requires a lot of commitment and practice. We're not expecting to fight for the championship this year, but instead, we want to lay a solid foundation for years to come.'

Rookies and Dark Horses

While many familiar faces returned, several newcomers stood out:

Omari Watson (Orbit Motorsports) - A former FS1 frontrunner, Watson makes his FS2 return and is expected to be a major factor in the title race.

Michael Falkenhain (Mapes-VO) - The legendary Anglo-Dutch outfit returns after a 19-year absence, and Falkenhain showed great one-lap speed but will need to work on race consistency.

Szymon Kander (Orbit Motorsports) - Making his FS2 debut, Kander finished the session inside the top 15, signaling that he could be one to watch as the season progresses.

Sandeep Singh didn't attend the pre-season test, but his strong showings in SL2 makes him a potential championship challenger.

Final Thoughts: What's Next?

With Melbourne's season opener just weeks away, teams and drivers now shift their focus to fine-tuning setups and race strategy. While pre-season testing only tells part of the story, the 2025 GPVWC FS2 season looks set to be one of the most competitive yet.

Can Skinner carry his testing pace into the first race, or will Knox, Koorits, and others challenge for early supremacy? Only time will tell.