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March 03, 2025
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With the 2025 GPVWC Superleague (SL1) season fast approaching, the four pre-season test sessions at Imola, Bahrain, Fuji, and Baku have provided teams with some valuable insights into their cars, strategies, and the competition.
These tests were more than just warm-ups; they showcased significant team developments, driver performances, and new technical advancements, most notably the introduction of Vertex as a new engine supplier. They are also notoriously unreliable for gathering a view as to how the season may shake out, but nevertheless we will try to unravel what happened over the last few weeks.
The Changing Grid: Key Offseason Moves
The 2024 season was marked by a fierce battle for the championship, culminating in Jan Granqvist securing the Drivers' Championship with Super Venturi, while THR - Viper took home the Teams' Championship title. However, as the new season dawns, the landscape of the grid has undergone significant changes, with drivers and teams making crucial moves in their quest for supremacy.
The defending champion, Jan Granqvist, remains with Super Venturi, aiming to fend off increased competition from a grid that has only gotten stronger. Lalu remains at Super Venturi alongside him, and the Finnish pair will be hoping to go one better than their 2nd place in the Constructors last time out.
The powerhouse combination of THR - Viper, led by Tom Stevens and Jarl Teien, sees Jarl moving from sister team Fraser Tartan (previously Nocturne), having deputised earlier in 2024 for THR, ensuring that the reigning constructors' champions have consistency on their side. Despite losing Adam Maguire to semi-retirement (the Irishman promising he'll return to the team when life allows), replacing him with Teien seems a good move and surely THR remain favourites for 2025.
Meanwhile, Carlos Martin has stayed with TOP Esports, who will be making their debut season with the Vertex power unit, a bold shift that adds another layer of intrigue to their performance, despite rumours he may join the THR group. Martin has been joined by Szymon Frelik, who will aim to compete right at the front, as he has done in multiple other GPVWC series, including 2nd in the 2023 FS1 championship, and runner-up in 2022 Superlights.
Edge Esports, a team that showed immense promise last season, continues with Marc Schlueter, who is determined to convert his strong form into race victories and potentially challenge for the title, whilst Pascal Pohlenz has moved to Edge from HRT.
Elsewhere, Fraser Tartan Racing has emerged from the rebranded Nocturne outfit, with Matt Richards and Sven Schubert leading their charge. Both drivers have experience in Superleague, but from many seasons ago; Schubert racing elsewhere over the last few years, and Richards becoming a Touring Car specialist in that time. Time will tell if either can step up to the rigours of GPVWC Superleague.
Stephane Rouault, having driven for HRT and winning the championship in 2021, and deputising last season in Canada, has rejoined the team full time in 2025 after a spell with Edge. Matthew Williams has joined Pansar at Edonis, moving from the defunct Zortax team. Mlynek has also joined HRT, partnering up with Rouault for his first full-time season since 2022. Mlynek took a sabbatical last season; he could well be a dark horse for race victories this year.
The final shock of the lineups is Dan Brewer, a well-known name in GPVWC, joining Geoffrey Fournier at Epic. Epic Racing have the best designer for 2025, so expect them to develop a good car.
The midfield battle is set to be just as captivating, with several teams stepping up from Superlights, including Valle Esports, Spark Racing, and Road to Formula, all of whom will be making their Superleague debut in 2025.
Test 1: Imola - A Benchmark for the Season
The first pre-season test took place at Imola, a circuit with a rich history and renowned for its technical demands. As the first official outing for the new cars, this test provided an early indication of who had hit the ground running and who still had work to do.
THR - Viper immediately set the standard, with Tom Stevens topping the timesheets with an impressive 1:15.637, followed closely by his teammate Jarl Teien, who clocked in at 1:15.867. Their pace reinforced what many had suspected; THR - Viper remains the team to beat heading into the new season.
Super Venturi, with the defending driver's champion, had a more subdued start, with Granqvist only managing 8th fastest, raising questions about their readiness to defend their title, amidst rumours that Jan wouldn?t be competing the full season.
Although Edge Esports and TOP Esports were able to close the gap, the dominance of THR - Viper was undeniable. Marc Schlueter posted a best time of 1:17.497, securing 9th fastest only, while Carlos Martin, in the newly Vertex-powered TOP Esports car, managed to only set a time good enough for 12th.
Returning driver Matt Richards of Fraser Tartan Racing produced a strong performance, consistently running within the top ten. Sven Schubert set the 3rd fastest time, whilst Richards posted a time good enough for 10th place, albeit 1.4 seconds off his team mate.
The other surprise was Zsolt Szucs, who went 4th fastest for STAX, although couldn?t get within a second of the three THR-Group drivers.
Other new entrants such as Valle Esports and Spark Racing used this test as a learning experience, gradually adapting to the heightened level of competition. While single-lap pace was the primary focus, long-run consistency was also being evaluated, with some teams showing promising signs of improvement in race simulations.
Test 2: Bahrain - Testing Race Simulations
A week later, teams arrived at Bahrain, where extreme temperatures and high tyre degradation presented a new challenge. Unlike Imola, where one-lap pace was a major focus, this test saw teams shifting their attention towards long-run consistency and race simulations. There was also rain on the radar, unusual for Bahrain!
Once again, THR - Viper emerged as the pacesetters, with Jarl Teien leading the way, setting the fastest time of 1:26.451. His teammate Tom Stevens followed closely behind with a 1: 27.034, reinforcing the team's control at the top. Schubert once again rounded out the top three for FTR, with Schlueter next in line, albeit over a second off the top 3.
The weather was affecting certain drivers. Carlos Martin was 13 seconds off the pace, as he showed that TOP Esports were focussing on wet running this time out, setting a time only good enough for 31st position.
Teams used this session to fine-tune their race strategies, with Fraser Tartan Racing continuing to impress as a potential dark horse in the midfield battle.
Bahrain's weather anomaly enabled most teams to run different strategies, with some experiencing different rates of tyre degradation, hinting at potential strategy dilemmas for the season opener in Melbourne. The tyre manufacturers looked to tweak the tyre wear after the test, as a result of the feedback.
Test 3: Fuji - A Rain-Soaked Wildcard
The third pre-season test brought the teams to the Fuji Speedway, a circuit known for its long straights and technical middle sector. Fuji once again presented an entirely different challenge; unpredictable weather.
THR - Viper continued their dominance, but this time, Tom Stevens was the man to beat, setting the fastest time of the test with a 1:11.993. Jarl Teien wasn't far behind, posting a time just 9 thousands slower, reinforcing the fact that THR's car was adaptable to different conditions and different circuits.
Marc Schlueter and Carlos Martin remained in the mix, securing third and seventh fastest times, respectively. Edge Esports and Fraser Tartan Racing had a particularly strong showing, with both teams managing competitive times across wet and dry sessions. Matt Richards of FTR impressed with a 1: 13.394, proving that his team was making significant progress as the season approached, especially after Moritz Kropp, deputising for Schubert who was eating Pizza in Italy, set the 4th fastest time, only 0.652 off Stevens.
Jukkapekka Lalu (Super Venturi) shone in the wet, briefly topping the timesheets before the circuit dried up. However, as the track conditions improved, Super Venturi found themselves slipping back down the order, suggesting that they may still lack the raw pace to challenge THR - Viper in dry conditions.
Edonis Engineering, endured a frustrating session, with their drivers struggling to extract performance from their car, whether in wet or dry conditions. 2024 race-winner Robin Pansar could only set the 12th fastest time, whilst Menno Klont propped he field up in 45th and last, some 9.7 seconds off the best.
As the session ended, teams were left with valuable wet-weather data from this test and Bahrain, which could prove crucial later in the season should similar conditions arise. The focus now shifted towards the final and most important test at Baku, where the true hierarchy would finally be revealed.
Test 4: Baku - The Broadcasted Showdown
The final pre-season test was not just another data-gathering exercise; it was the only broadcasted test session, meaning that fans and analysts alike had the chance to dissect every aspect of performance in real time. With the high-speed straights and tight walls of Baku providing an ultimate proving ground, this test was a critical moment for all teams.
THR - Viper once again looked formidable, with Jarl Teien setting the fastest time of the session with a 1:37.703, narrowly ahead of Szymon Frelik (TOP), who set an impressive 1:37.758. Carlos Martin (TOP Esports) wasn't far behind, posting a 1:38.130, suggesting that the Vertex-powered car had made noticeable gains since Fuji.
Tom Stevens completed the THR charge in third, just a fraction behind Frelik, ensuring that a 1-2 lockout for THR (as was the case in the first three tests) was thwarted in Azerbaijan.
Throughout the broadcast, commentators pointed out how Schlueter and Martin looked far more comfortable in their cars compared to the earlier tests. Their times were closer to THR than ever before, suggesting that they might be able to mount a serious challenge once racing begins.
However, not every team left Baku with confidence. Super Venturi, despite a slightly stronger showing from Granqvist, continued to look inconsistent. While they showed long-run pace was still a concern, none of their drivers went for low-fuel runs, somewhat hiding their pace. Jan Granqvist did appear to struggle throughout pre-season, and here could only manage to be 3.2 seconds off, down in 22nd place. However, it should be noted that THR did complete a lot of short runs at the end of the session, attempting to beat that very fast time by Szymon Frelik. The reigning champion faces a huge challenge to defend his title in 2025, especially with THR, Edge, and TOP all looking increasingly competitive.
Throughout the session, discussions focused on how TOP Esports appeared to be closing the gap to the frontrunners, with their pace now strong enough to compete for podiums. Edge Esports also looked well-positioned to be consistent challengers, while THR - Viper maintained their status as favourites. Despite their struggles, Super Venturi was still expected to improve once the season got underway, with their experience and past success giving them an edge in development.
What Do The Test Results Show?
With pre-season testing now complete, the final pecking order is becoming clear. THR - Viper remains the team to beat, but the gap has closed considerably. TOP Esports and Edge Esports look like serious contenders, while Super Venturi will need to find something extra if they want to defend their titles. The biggest news from pre-season is how competitive FTR appear, with Schubert, Kropp and Kwint all posting laptimes in the top ten at Baku. Their average position in testing across all sessions and drivers was around 8th place, which in a field of 30 drivers (45 in testing) appears to make them around the 3rd best team. Time will tell if they can carry that form into the season proper.
Elsewhere in the field, we've yet to see really strong pace from other teams. Road 2 Formula, Spark and Red Archer never troubled the top ten in any session, whilst Valle only managed 8th at Fuji in the hands of Alessandro Maggio. Red Archer, in particular, didn't even field a 3rd driver at Baku.
Meanwhile, Green Stripes, in the hands of Stijn Handgraaf and Wopke Hoekstra, twice made the top ten in testing - Handgraaf at Baku, whilst Wopke was 6th at Imola.
Stephane Rouault for HRT, and Maciej Mlynek also, clearly focussed on getting data for the team, and working on their long run pace, rather than attempting any fast runs on low fuel across all four tests; much like AKA Hero and Epic.
STAX and Edonis returned to the track once again, but both teams had varying competitiveness across the four tests, and it?s incredibly difficult to read into their results as to how they?ll shape up in Australia.
Melbourne is next up, on Thursday 13th - you won't want to miss it!
The Changing Grid: Key Offseason Moves
The 2024 season was marked by a fierce battle for the championship, culminating in Jan Granqvist securing the Drivers' Championship with Super Venturi, while THR - Viper took home the Teams' Championship title. However, as the new season dawns, the landscape of the grid has undergone significant changes, with drivers and teams making crucial moves in their quest for supremacy.
The defending champion, Jan Granqvist, remains with Super Venturi, aiming to fend off increased competition from a grid that has only gotten stronger. Lalu remains at Super Venturi alongside him, and the Finnish pair will be hoping to go one better than their 2nd place in the Constructors last time out.
The powerhouse combination of THR - Viper, led by Tom Stevens and Jarl Teien, sees Jarl moving from sister team Fraser Tartan (previously Nocturne), having deputised earlier in 2024 for THR, ensuring that the reigning constructors' champions have consistency on their side. Despite losing Adam Maguire to semi-retirement (the Irishman promising he'll return to the team when life allows), replacing him with Teien seems a good move and surely THR remain favourites for 2025.
Meanwhile, Carlos Martin has stayed with TOP Esports, who will be making their debut season with the Vertex power unit, a bold shift that adds another layer of intrigue to their performance, despite rumours he may join the THR group. Martin has been joined by Szymon Frelik, who will aim to compete right at the front, as he has done in multiple other GPVWC series, including 2nd in the 2023 FS1 championship, and runner-up in 2022 Superlights.
Edge Esports, a team that showed immense promise last season, continues with Marc Schlueter, who is determined to convert his strong form into race victories and potentially challenge for the title, whilst Pascal Pohlenz has moved to Edge from HRT.
Elsewhere, Fraser Tartan Racing has emerged from the rebranded Nocturne outfit, with Matt Richards and Sven Schubert leading their charge. Both drivers have experience in Superleague, but from many seasons ago; Schubert racing elsewhere over the last few years, and Richards becoming a Touring Car specialist in that time. Time will tell if either can step up to the rigours of GPVWC Superleague.
Stephane Rouault, having driven for HRT and winning the championship in 2021, and deputising last season in Canada, has rejoined the team full time in 2025 after a spell with Edge. Matthew Williams has joined Pansar at Edonis, moving from the defunct Zortax team. Mlynek has also joined HRT, partnering up with Rouault for his first full-time season since 2022. Mlynek took a sabbatical last season; he could well be a dark horse for race victories this year.
The final shock of the lineups is Dan Brewer, a well-known name in GPVWC, joining Geoffrey Fournier at Epic. Epic Racing have the best designer for 2025, so expect them to develop a good car.
The midfield battle is set to be just as captivating, with several teams stepping up from Superlights, including Valle Esports, Spark Racing, and Road to Formula, all of whom will be making their Superleague debut in 2025.
Test 1: Imola - A Benchmark for the Season
The first pre-season test took place at Imola, a circuit with a rich history and renowned for its technical demands. As the first official outing for the new cars, this test provided an early indication of who had hit the ground running and who still had work to do.
THR - Viper immediately set the standard, with Tom Stevens topping the timesheets with an impressive 1:15.637, followed closely by his teammate Jarl Teien, who clocked in at 1:15.867. Their pace reinforced what many had suspected; THR - Viper remains the team to beat heading into the new season.
Super Venturi, with the defending driver's champion, had a more subdued start, with Granqvist only managing 8th fastest, raising questions about their readiness to defend their title, amidst rumours that Jan wouldn?t be competing the full season.
Although Edge Esports and TOP Esports were able to close the gap, the dominance of THR - Viper was undeniable. Marc Schlueter posted a best time of 1:17.497, securing 9th fastest only, while Carlos Martin, in the newly Vertex-powered TOP Esports car, managed to only set a time good enough for 12th.
Returning driver Matt Richards of Fraser Tartan Racing produced a strong performance, consistently running within the top ten. Sven Schubert set the 3rd fastest time, whilst Richards posted a time good enough for 10th place, albeit 1.4 seconds off his team mate.
The other surprise was Zsolt Szucs, who went 4th fastest for STAX, although couldn?t get within a second of the three THR-Group drivers.
Other new entrants such as Valle Esports and Spark Racing used this test as a learning experience, gradually adapting to the heightened level of competition. While single-lap pace was the primary focus, long-run consistency was also being evaluated, with some teams showing promising signs of improvement in race simulations.
Test 2: Bahrain - Testing Race Simulations
A week later, teams arrived at Bahrain, where extreme temperatures and high tyre degradation presented a new challenge. Unlike Imola, where one-lap pace was a major focus, this test saw teams shifting their attention towards long-run consistency and race simulations. There was also rain on the radar, unusual for Bahrain!
Once again, THR - Viper emerged as the pacesetters, with Jarl Teien leading the way, setting the fastest time of 1:26.451. His teammate Tom Stevens followed closely behind with a 1: 27.034, reinforcing the team's control at the top. Schubert once again rounded out the top three for FTR, with Schlueter next in line, albeit over a second off the top 3.
The weather was affecting certain drivers. Carlos Martin was 13 seconds off the pace, as he showed that TOP Esports were focussing on wet running this time out, setting a time only good enough for 31st position.
Teams used this session to fine-tune their race strategies, with Fraser Tartan Racing continuing to impress as a potential dark horse in the midfield battle.
Bahrain's weather anomaly enabled most teams to run different strategies, with some experiencing different rates of tyre degradation, hinting at potential strategy dilemmas for the season opener in Melbourne. The tyre manufacturers looked to tweak the tyre wear after the test, as a result of the feedback.
Test 3: Fuji - A Rain-Soaked Wildcard
The third pre-season test brought the teams to the Fuji Speedway, a circuit known for its long straights and technical middle sector. Fuji once again presented an entirely different challenge; unpredictable weather.
THR - Viper continued their dominance, but this time, Tom Stevens was the man to beat, setting the fastest time of the test with a 1:11.993. Jarl Teien wasn't far behind, posting a time just 9 thousands slower, reinforcing the fact that THR's car was adaptable to different conditions and different circuits.
Marc Schlueter and Carlos Martin remained in the mix, securing third and seventh fastest times, respectively. Edge Esports and Fraser Tartan Racing had a particularly strong showing, with both teams managing competitive times across wet and dry sessions. Matt Richards of FTR impressed with a 1: 13.394, proving that his team was making significant progress as the season approached, especially after Moritz Kropp, deputising for Schubert who was eating Pizza in Italy, set the 4th fastest time, only 0.652 off Stevens.
Jukkapekka Lalu (Super Venturi) shone in the wet, briefly topping the timesheets before the circuit dried up. However, as the track conditions improved, Super Venturi found themselves slipping back down the order, suggesting that they may still lack the raw pace to challenge THR - Viper in dry conditions.
Edonis Engineering, endured a frustrating session, with their drivers struggling to extract performance from their car, whether in wet or dry conditions. 2024 race-winner Robin Pansar could only set the 12th fastest time, whilst Menno Klont propped he field up in 45th and last, some 9.7 seconds off the best.
As the session ended, teams were left with valuable wet-weather data from this test and Bahrain, which could prove crucial later in the season should similar conditions arise. The focus now shifted towards the final and most important test at Baku, where the true hierarchy would finally be revealed.
Test 4: Baku - The Broadcasted Showdown
The final pre-season test was not just another data-gathering exercise; it was the only broadcasted test session, meaning that fans and analysts alike had the chance to dissect every aspect of performance in real time. With the high-speed straights and tight walls of Baku providing an ultimate proving ground, this test was a critical moment for all teams.
THR - Viper once again looked formidable, with Jarl Teien setting the fastest time of the session with a 1:37.703, narrowly ahead of Szymon Frelik (TOP), who set an impressive 1:37.758. Carlos Martin (TOP Esports) wasn't far behind, posting a 1:38.130, suggesting that the Vertex-powered car had made noticeable gains since Fuji.
Tom Stevens completed the THR charge in third, just a fraction behind Frelik, ensuring that a 1-2 lockout for THR (as was the case in the first three tests) was thwarted in Azerbaijan.
Throughout the broadcast, commentators pointed out how Schlueter and Martin looked far more comfortable in their cars compared to the earlier tests. Their times were closer to THR than ever before, suggesting that they might be able to mount a serious challenge once racing begins.
However, not every team left Baku with confidence. Super Venturi, despite a slightly stronger showing from Granqvist, continued to look inconsistent. While they showed long-run pace was still a concern, none of their drivers went for low-fuel runs, somewhat hiding their pace. Jan Granqvist did appear to struggle throughout pre-season, and here could only manage to be 3.2 seconds off, down in 22nd place. However, it should be noted that THR did complete a lot of short runs at the end of the session, attempting to beat that very fast time by Szymon Frelik. The reigning champion faces a huge challenge to defend his title in 2025, especially with THR, Edge, and TOP all looking increasingly competitive.
Throughout the session, discussions focused on how TOP Esports appeared to be closing the gap to the frontrunners, with their pace now strong enough to compete for podiums. Edge Esports also looked well-positioned to be consistent challengers, while THR - Viper maintained their status as favourites. Despite their struggles, Super Venturi was still expected to improve once the season got underway, with their experience and past success giving them an edge in development.
What Do The Test Results Show?
With pre-season testing now complete, the final pecking order is becoming clear. THR - Viper remains the team to beat, but the gap has closed considerably. TOP Esports and Edge Esports look like serious contenders, while Super Venturi will need to find something extra if they want to defend their titles. The biggest news from pre-season is how competitive FTR appear, with Schubert, Kropp and Kwint all posting laptimes in the top ten at Baku. Their average position in testing across all sessions and drivers was around 8th place, which in a field of 30 drivers (45 in testing) appears to make them around the 3rd best team. Time will tell if they can carry that form into the season proper.
Elsewhere in the field, we've yet to see really strong pace from other teams. Road 2 Formula, Spark and Red Archer never troubled the top ten in any session, whilst Valle only managed 8th at Fuji in the hands of Alessandro Maggio. Red Archer, in particular, didn't even field a 3rd driver at Baku.
Meanwhile, Green Stripes, in the hands of Stijn Handgraaf and Wopke Hoekstra, twice made the top ten in testing - Handgraaf at Baku, whilst Wopke was 6th at Imola.
Stephane Rouault for HRT, and Maciej Mlynek also, clearly focussed on getting data for the team, and working on their long run pace, rather than attempting any fast runs on low fuel across all four tests; much like AKA Hero and Epic.
STAX and Edonis returned to the track once again, but both teams had varying competitiveness across the four tests, and it?s incredibly difficult to read into their results as to how they?ll shape up in Australia.
Melbourne is next up, on Thursday 13th - you won't want to miss it!
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