Reigning Teams’ Champions Invicta Racing head into the 2026 FIA Formula 2 season with encouraging momentum after a productive pre-season test in Barcelona. The Norfolk-based team delivered one of the strongest performances across the three days. Both drivers, Rafael Câmara and Joshua Dürksen, also showed promising pace and quickly integrated with the squad ahead of the opening 2026 F2 round in Melbourne.
Invicta’s highlight came on Day 2 of testing. The team topped both the morning and afternoon sessions. Their strong form continued into the final day, when rookie Rafael Câmara set the fastest lap of the entire test during the opening segment of Day 3. Despite the impressive headline times, F2 2026 Invicta Racing Team Principal James Robinson played down their significance. He stressed that the team’s confidence comes more from the progress made behind the scenes than from the timing sheets.
Robinson pleased with driver integration
Invicta welcomed two new drivers for the F2 2026 season. Reigning FIA Formula 3 champion Rafael Câmara joins the team alongside Joshua Dürksen. The Paraguayan arrives after two seasons in Formula 2. Reflecting on the test, Robinson praised how quickly both drivers adapted to their new environment.
“It’s been a really good test for us, both drivers have fitted in seamlessly,” Robinson explained. “We said at the end of Abu Dhabi that if we compared it to 12 months ago, it was very much a reset.”
“I would say this feels like very much like we’ve picked up from where we left off after Abu Dhabi.”
The post-season Abu Dhabi test marked the first opportunity for both drivers to experience the Invicta F2 machinery. Since then, Robinson believes their preparation has already paid dividends heading into the new campaign.
Câmara’s adaptability impresses
Robinson singled out Câmara’s rapid adaptation to the car as particularly impressive given his limited experience in the series. The Brazilian arrives in Formula 2 after a dominant rookie campaign in Formula 3, where he secured the Drivers’ Championship.
“Rafael has come in and shown a level of adaptability to the car that does not correspond to his actual level of experience,” Robinson said. “He’s done quite a lot of work between Abu Dhabi and now and it’s really showing.”
Dürksen, meanwhile, brings valuable experience after two seasons with AIX Racing. Robinson explained that while the Paraguayan driver contributes significant technical knowledge, adapting to a new team philosophy requires adjustments.
“Joshua — he comes with a lot more experience from his two years at AIX and he brings a great amount of knowledge, technical expertise as to how the car works, how to set the car up, things like that.”
“But then there’s also some difficulties with that because he’s obviously predisposed to ideas having driven a car with another team which may have slightly different setup philosophy than us, so he’s also had to unlearn a few things.”
Robinson’s focus remains on preparation for Invicta Racing F2 2026 season
Although Invicta topped multiple sessions during testing, Robinson cautioned against drawing firm conclusions from the results. Different run plans across teams meant lap times often did not reflect the true competitive order.
“If we were P21 and P22, I would be saying exactly the same thing. On Day 2, Joshua was the only person running his run plan.” Robinson said.
Instead, the team principal emphasised the importance of collaboration and communication within the team, something he believes was a key ingredient behind Invicta’s championship success last season.
“Generally speaking, his feedback has been phenomenal… what’s really pleasing from my point of view is to see how well the drivers are working together.”
With the opening F2 round of the 2026 season approaching in Melbourne, Robinson believes both drivers, Rafael Câmara and Joshua Dürksen, are well positioned but acknowledges there is still work to be done.
