The GP3 Series has confirmed its testing schedule for the 2016 season that hints that the opening race of the year is likely to be in Russia.
Earlier this week, GP2 announced its testing calendar that also points to the first race of the season being at the Sochi Autodrom in support of the Russian Grand Prix.
The GP3 season usually starts at the second race of the GP2 campaign, which in recent years has been in Spain.
However, with the final pre-season test planned to take place in Barcelona on April 20-21, it is feasible that the teams will then travel to Russia for the first race of the year on April 30.
Should this nine-day turnaround prove too tight for the teams though, the season would then certainly start once again in Barcelona on May 14.
Here’s the GP3 testing schedule for 2016:
- Estoril, Portugal - March 22-24
- Valencia, Spain - April 7-8
- Barcelona, Spain - April 20-21
- Spielberg, Austria - June 7-8