Hockenheim heatache for Chilton

8th June 2009

Max was unceremoniously knocked out of a podium finish in the British F3 International Series’ visit to Hockenheim in Germany…..

He showed great pace all weekend and was challenging for a top three finish in Sunday’s race, when an incident was triggered by the Hitech driver – Renger van de Zande. Backing up his pursuers in order to give his leading team mate a more comfortable cushion, van de Zande caused a collision which launched another car straight into Max’s Dallara and ended his challenge through a puncture.

Following a pit-stop for a replacement tyre, Max rejoined and did finish the race, albeit down in a disappointed 16th place overall.

After Sunday’s race, obviously furious, Max described the incident;

“Van de Zande was the reason the shunt happened behind me. No question. It’s obvious what he was trying to do and he almost came to a complete stop. I managed not to hit him, but behind me, well they didn’t stop and someone collided with the back of my car causing a puncture. I would definitely have finished on the podium and actually could have been 2nd or even won it, who knows? My car felt fantastic and I had the pace to beat the Hitech cars today.”

The result was a huge disappointment after a strong performance in Saturday’s first race when Max finished as the top British driver, bringing his Carlin run car home in 5th place.

Max had started both races from 4th place on the grid, and although he lost a couple of places with a slow getaway on Sunday, he picked his way back up through the field. Showing excellent pace, he dispatched Marcus Ericsson and Wayne Boyd on successive laps and closed in on the Hitech pair. Max was looking for a way to pass the slower van de Zande when the incident occurred.

Saturday’s race had been more processional but Max and Carlin team mate Dan Ricciardo had to give best to the fast starting Hitech car of Walter Grubmuller. The team found a great set-up for Sunday’s race which had given Max a better car, but unfortunately the opportunity to score some good points, as well as a podium was taken away from him.

Max has to quickly put the heartache of Hockenheim behind him now, and focus on next weekend’s challenge – the Masters of F3 at Zandvoort in Holland.

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