Miyata: ‘Pushing the limits in testing important for F2 adaptation’

Fresh from his finest round to date in what is his rookie Formula 2 campaign, Ritomo Miyata arrived in Barcelona in a great place having broken into the top 10 in the Drivers’ Championship.

The Rodin Motorsport driver achieved a pair of fifth place finishes for the team in Melbourne, putting in a convincing drive during both the Sprint and Feature races.

On his next stop at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya he was eager to make the most of the three days of track time to continue building on those performances.

READ MORE: ‘I’m learning with every lap’ - Ritomo Miyata on rising to the F2 challenge

Miyata says it was important during the Barcelona test that he keep pushing the limits in order to better understand where the boundaries are with the 2024 car. He was satisfied he achieved that after finishing the second afternoon session as the quickest driver.

“During this test, we can try out new car setups, different driving styles and the tyres. So, for me it's the first time in an F2 car with a European team and track. I know Barcelona as two weeks ago I drove here in another series, but the car and the tyre is different compared to the car I drove.

“So, this is the most difficult thing to understand - how to drive fast. So, it’s been a good test, I’ve been learning step-by-step, and the team is good but continuing to work very hard.”

"I keep learning. I want to try things out and if I don’t try, I don’t learn more about the tyres and car"

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will be the first traditional European venue that Miyata has driven after three flyaway rounds that opened the 2024 F2 season.

Two of those were around street circuits in Melbourne and Jeddah, with the latter one of the toughest circuits on the calendar to get to grips with.

The Japanese driver says that the three-day test in Spain was particularly important week for him, as he sought to push the limits of the car and himself ahead of F2’s return to more familiar ground in Europe.

“Compared to a street circuit like Jeddah which is the most difficult circuit to learn, it is a bit easier here,” Miyata continued. “But, because the car and the tyres are new, it’s still a new experience and still difficult because I don’t have experience with them.

“I can feel that I’m learning, I always try to learn with every lap which is why maybe sometimes there’s a spin or a flatspot, but this is ok because I keep learning. I want to try things out and if I don’t try, I don’t learn more about the tyres and car.

“In the race weekends, Practice is only 45 minutes, and I can only use one set of tyres, which makes it tough and very difficult. These tests help and it’s been a good process of me improving in the car and with the tyres.”

While plans diverged greatly up and down the pitlane during the test, Rodin were in and amongst the top of the times throughout the event.

Rodin are the early leaders in the Teams’ Standings, leading the pack with two wins, three podiums and eight top ten finishes from a possible 12. Miyata’s best weekend came at the most recent round in Melbourne, and he is looking to make the work he put in during testing count next time out in Imola.

TEST NOTEBOOK: What happened during testing in Barcelona?

He’s expecting another steep learning curve with it being another track he’s yet to turn a wheel at before, but that hasn’t prevented him from making an early impact so far in Formula 2.

“Everyone has done a different run plan, half doing race runs and half doing Qualifying simulation. The next round in Imola, I’ve been there before to watch a race, but I’ve never driven it.

“The next round will be the first time for me driving Imola, which will be a very exciting experience but also very tough. I think the test has helped me for the next round and I’m looking forward to it.”