Formula 2 teams begin testing revised car after problems
Teams have began testing the updated Formula 2 car, after the series changed the clutch and electronics to tackle poor reliability and a difficult starting procedure on the new car
The F2 races started behind the safety car at the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone due to season-long problems with the new-for-2018 car's tricky clutch.
The car - introduced for this year with a turbo engine, halo and bigger wings - has also suffered engine reliability issues.
After Silverstone the championship took back all the teams' engines in order to update them, and has also added a new clutch and throttle mapping to help with the start procedure.
A ballot was done on Tuesday to decide which team gets which engine, and after that ART Grand Prix was the first team to test with both of its drivers at Magny Cours.
DAMS followed with both of its drivers on Thursday at the Le Mans airport.
"It went well, we didn't stall," said ART driver and Renault Formula 1 junior Jack Aitken.
"Speaking to the guys from F2 it appears it has gone as planned.
"It has made the start more difficult in terms of getting the perfect launch, but it's harder to stall for sure, so I think they've tackled what they wanted to achieve.
"The big problem - as it always has been - is we've found it quite hard to recreate the stall problems in testing, usually it happens on the grid in the race, so the real test will be next weekend.
"But for now, it looks good."
DAMS boss Francois Sicard also noted the updates appear to have worked, and both Nicolas Latifi and Alexander Albon got to sample the car.
Each team has been given 100kms and a set of supersoft Pirellis to practice.
"It's definitely a step," said Sicard.
"We have a clutch that is more consistent.
"The feeling for the drivers is not as positive as for the engineers, I think now the drivers have to get used to it, but I'm pretty confident we have done a step with this new clutch.
"I think we have some settings to fine tune regarding the mapping and the delivery of the torque of the engine.
"I look forward to Budapest and a standing start."
The other F2 teams are expected to test in the coming days before Hungary, where the series is aiming to have standing starts.
For the Budapest races there will be another engine ballot to decide who gets which engine.
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| Series | FIA F2 |
| Author | Jack Benyon |
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