SEAN Walkinshaw’s preparations for the new European Formula 3 Open season will go up a notch this weekend.

The Chipping Norton driver is heading to Jerez, Spain, for a two-day test beginning on Friday.

It will be the first opportunity for Walkinshaw to compare his new Dallara F312 for the Campos Racing team.

The 20-year-old said: “I’m really looking forward to being back in the car and working with the Campos guys again.

“It’s going to be a completely new experience, though, with the new engine and there’s still a lot to learn about the car in general with it being my first year in the F312.

“It’s also going to be the first time all of the drivers can get a look at each other.

“We need to try and make the two days in Jerez as productive as we can and carry on the good progress we made in testing before the new year.”

Walkinshaw is due to take part in the 2014 Winter Series next month, with rounds at France’s Paul Ricard track and the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain.

It acts as the warm-up to the start of the main championship season, which gets under way at the Nurburgring in Germany on May 3.