British F3 Full of North Eastern Promise
05
September
2007
After missing out last year, British F3 returns to the North
East’s
premier race circuit at Croft, North Yorkshire, for the penultimate
meeting of 2007, a season that has seen eight different winners in
eighteen races.
British Formula 3 has been the traditional training ground for the
future stars of F1 for many years and the 2007 Lloyds TSB Insurance
British F3 International Series is no exception, boasting large grids
and attracting top drivers from across the world.
Marko Asmer from Estonia is on the brink of becoming the 2007 British
F3 Champion and joining the ranks of Ayrton Senna, Jackie Stewart,
Mika Hakkinen and Nelson Piquet, all of whom lifted this coveted title
on their way to Formula One glory. Asmer, who is currently 72 points
ahead of Germany’s Maro Engel, only has to finish in front of
his rival in the first race of the weekend to clinch the title. Even
if Engel beats him, as long as the Estonian is 42 ahead after the second
race he will be champion.
Engel fought back last time out at Thruxton and finished ahead of the
Estonian in both races, including a magnificent drive from 15th to
3rd in the first race, to close the gap slightly. However it will be
a mammoth task to pull back so many points in the last four races,
but Engel, who has won twice this season, is a racer and he wont give
up until it is a mathematical impossibility for him to win the coveted
British F3 title.
At Thruxton Stephen Jelley finally scored his first British F3 win.
In a superb, action packed race, Jelley drove from 5th on the grid
to overtake his Raikkonen Robertson Racing team mate Jonathan Kennard
and step onto the top of the British F3 podium.
Sam Bird has been one of the ‘star’ finds of the 2007 season.
The Formula Renault graduate has proven his ability in Formula 3 with
two wins in Bucharest and Spa and six further podiums making him the
top rookie driver. However his championship hopes suffered a blow at
Thruxton two weeks ago and two non finishes put him out of the title
race. However the 20-year-old form Surrey will be looking for a good
finish to his first season in British F3.
Like his Double R teammate Jonathan Kennard has also scored his first
British F3 win this year, dominating the meeting at Spa Francorchamps
in July with a pole position and two fastest laps, including setting
a British F3 lap record on the newly configured Spa circuit. The 2004
Formula Palmer Audi Champion is certainly one to watch at Croft as
he raced in the National Class two years ago at the circuit.
Reigning Formula BMW Champion Niall Breen is another first year driver
who has adapted quickly to the more powerful machinery. Podiums at
Donington and Bucharest were quickly followed by a win at Snetterton
in June. A double race winner at Croft last year in Formula BMW holds
the 21-year-old Irish driver in good stead after delivering a podium
finish at Thruxton two weeks where he had scored a double race win
last season.
Carlin Motorsport’s fourth driver Alberto Valerio has been struggling
to regain the form that earned him four podium finishes at Bucharest,
Snetterton and Monza earlier in the season. The 2005 South American
F3 Champion has shown that he still has the pace to run at the front
of the field but a mixture of bad luck and mechanical woes have denied
him further podium success. Perhaps Croft will be the circuit where
that changes!
Raikkonen Robertson Racing’s Atte Mustonen joined his teammates
by scoring his maiden win at Thruxton two weeks ago. The 18-year-old
Finn broke the British F3 lap record at Thruxton in the opening race
of the day before taking the chequered flag in race two. The rapid
Finn also broke the lap record at Snetterton and will be looking to
further success at Croft and Rockingham.
Reigning Formula Renault Champion Sebastian Hohenthal has been having
an up and down season. The Swede got his first season in British F3
off to a great start by breaking the lap record at Oulton Park and
then taking a podium finish in Round 2. He then had to wait until Round
12 for further podium success which came in the form of a race win,
battling to the flag with Atte Mustonen. Further podium success was
denied Hohenthal at Thruxton two weeks after a pole position was unconverted
after a clash with Niall Breen ended his race in the barriers. However
the Fortec driver is a podium contender so expect to see him at the
sharp end of the grid this weekend.
Rounding out the top 10 is the reigning British F3 National Class Champion
Rodolfo Gonzalez. ‘Gonzo’ has certainly turned his season
around with impressive drives at Brands Hatch, Silverstone and at Thruxton,
where he scored his first podium of the year for himself and for a
Mugen-Honda powered car. To underline his pace he also took the fastest
lap in the race.
Ones to watch just outside the top 10 are the Ultimate Motorsport cars
of Esteban Guerrieri and Michael Devaney. Using the brand new Mygale
F3 chassis, the team have stunned the rest of the British F3 field
with their pace and have just missed out on a podium finish on three
occasions. Devaney took the fastest lap in Bucharest and both drivers
will be looking to take the next step forward at Croft.
Greg Mansell, the younger son of 1992 F1 World Champion Nigel Mansell,
has put in performances well ahead of his experience level. Despite
this year being on his second in racing, having never competed in karts
prior to Formula BMW last season, the 19-year-old Fortec driver has
taken two podium finishes and has been a consistent points scorer against
drivers with immensely more experience. Watch out for the black and
white Dallara with the famous helmet colours of the Mansell family.
While Marko Asmer was the runaway overall points leader, the National
Class has been a more frantic battle between Sergio Perez and Cheng
Cong Fu. However that all changed at Thruxton with Perez having his
second perfect weekend taking 42 points, a fourth and a DNF, thanks
to a heavy crash, has dented ‘Frankie’ Cheng’s chances
of beating his Mexican rival to the title. However Sergio’s record
is impressive with 11 wins, 12 pole positions and 9 fastest laps, all
on circuits the young Mexican hasn’t raced on before. As long
as Perez beats Cheng to the line in the opening race he will take the
National Class title.
For the full TV listings of when to see British F3 on Channel 4 and
Motors TV visit www.britishf3international.com/tv.php
SRO
See 2007 series calendar for British
F3 Championship
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