What to expect

The FIA Formula 3 Championship returns on Sunday in Valencia, where the official post-season test will commence in Spain’s south-eastern coast. The three-day long event will take place between October 20-22 and offer teams and drivers the first opportunity to assess in detail their potential partnerships for the 2020 campaign.

Evaluating the fit of both the teams and the race seats, drivers will be looking to impress ahead of the new campaign, as they bid to earn a winning drive for the upcoming season. In the shorter-term, the test will also provide an opportunity to work on their preparations for the 2019 FIA Formula 3 World Cup in Macau, which takes place on November 14-17.

Running Sunday from 10am and Monday from 9am, until 5pm both days (local time), and from 9am until 4pm on Tuesday, with a break in-between, the teams will be allocated soft compound Pirelli tyres.

Temperatures are expected to flutter between 15 and 21 degrees and the drivers should enjoy the luxury of a dry track on Sunday and Monday, with the possibility of rain on Tuesday.

Fresh faces and returning favourites

Amongst a selection of debutants will be BRDC British rising star driver Billy Monger, who was awarded the 2018 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity. The 20-year-old continues his long-term partnership with Carlin Racing.

Joining Monger at Carlin Buzz Racing will be the winner of the 2017 and 2018 Macau Grand Prix, Dan Ticktum, who makes his return to this level of racing, having previously driven in GP3 and European Formula 3.

Among the returning contingent will be Renault Academy driver Christian Lundgaard, who remains in his ART Grand Prix seat, while 2019 teammate, and fellow Renault junior, Max Fewtrell will make the jump to Hitech Grand Prix. Joining Fewtrell at the British outfit will be Red Bull juniors Yuki Tsunoda and debutant Jack Doohan.

American racer Logan Sargeant has earned a test at 2019 Team Champions PREMA Racing, alongside Formula Renault Eurocup Champion Oscar Piastri, who will make his F3 debut. Also debuting on Day 1 for the Italians is 2017 BRDC British F3 champion Enaam Ahmed.

2019 drivers Richard Verschoor, Jake Hughes, Devlin DeFrancesco, David Beckmann and Fabio Scherer will all be returning for the test in Valencia, as well as a host of other familiar faces.