Igor Walilko will start his second season in the Euroformula Open series this weekend with the aim to fight for the Championship in 2016. Adding to the challenge will be the Pole’s decision to change teams just before he opening races in Estoril.

The 18-year-old from Zielona Gora was amongst the front runners during all three official preseason tests after a successful rookie campaign last year. However, despite that, he wasn’t able to find a suitable agreement for 2016 with his team. Therefore, with less than two weeks before the opening round, Walilko decided to change squads. This year he’ll race for the vastly experienced Fortec Motorsports team – former winners of the Formula Renault 3.5 series – in a British squad build solely around him in EFO.

This weekend Igor and his new team will embark on the first of the eight rounds of Euroformula Open, which takes place in Estoril, near Portugal’s capital, Lisbon. Former Formula 1 and MotoGP Grand Prix circuit is famous for its long start and finish straight, fast, sweeping corners and several elevation changes with strong winds usually adding to the challenge. Last year in Estoril Walilko scored two podiums in the Rookies Trophy, with a first and a third.

Thursday will see all drivers taking part in three test sessions with over five hours of track time in total followed by just two 30-minute practice sessions on Friday. The two races will start at 2:15 PM local time (3:15 CET) on the Saturday and 12:15 (1:15) on Sunday. Each will last 19 laps. Both races will be broadcast live in Poland.

Photo credit: FOTOSPEEDY