Rookie Jake Dennis is the second most successful Volkswagen driver in PauMax Verstappen on the podium again
Tom Blomqvist is still the best-placed Volkswagen driver in the drivers' standingsTom Blomqvist (GB) celebrated his second victory of the 2014 FIA Formula 3 European Championship season in Pau in the south of France. In the second of three races on the 2.76-kilometre street circuit, the son of the former World Rally Champion Stig Blomqvist in the Volkswagen-Dallara for the team “Jagonya Ayam with Carlin” asserted himself against the Frenchman Esteban Ocon, who started the race from pole position. Third place went to Jake Dennis (GB) from Team Carlin, also in a Volkswagen-Dallara. Blomqvist's victory presented the Volkswagen brand with their third victory in the current season of the Formula 3 European Championship. Before that, Max Verstappen (NL) of Van Amersfoort Racing won the third race in Hockenheim (D), while Blomqvist came first at the season-opener in Silverstone (GB).
In the second race in Pau, which he started from fourth on the grid, Blomqvist initially moved up to third position after Verstappen retired, before moving into second after a collision between Felix Rosenqvist (S) and Ocon. After several safety car phases, Blomqvist pulled off a spectacular overtaking manoeuvre just before the end of the race to secure victory and put in another good performance in the third and final race of the weekend. Finishing third, behind winner Rosenqvist and Ocon in second, he made it onto the podium in Pau once again. After three of eleven Formula 3 events, Blomqvist, with his 107 points, remains second in the drivers' standings, behind overall leader Ocon (164).
With one third place and two fourth places, F3 European Championship rookie Jake Dennis from Team Carlin was the second most successful driver for the Volkswagen brand at the race weekend in Pau, after Blomqvist. With 54 points, the Brit is currently eighth in the drivers' standings. Max Verstappen (NL) of Team Van Amersfoort Racing also celebrated a podium finish. He secured third place in the first race in Pau.
The next round of the Formula 3 European Championship will take place at the Hungaroring in Hungary from 30 May to 01 June.
Quotes, FIA Formula 3 European Championship in Pau
Tom Blomqvist (GB), Jagonya Ayam with Carlin, Dallara-Volkswagen #31“I'm delighted to have won the second race. It was the first time this weekend that we have driven on a wet track and the main thing was just to stay on the track. Third place means that I have collected some more points, even if Esteban is quite a way ahead of me in the overall standings. But we've got good pace and I'm not going to give up.”
Jake Dennis (GB), Carlin, Dallara-Volkswagen #28“I'm very pleased that I was able to finish the weekend with so many points and a strong result. The races went really well for us and we made a lot of progress throughout the weekend. Our performance was strong and our pace was very good. We picked up points, which gives us a good basis to build on ahead of the next round in Hungary.”
Max Verstappen (NL), Van Amersfoort Racing, Dallara-Volkswagen #30“The first race was fun. Third place is a good result and gives me valuable points. However, I'm disappointed with the weekend as a whole. It started off well with the podium, but the last two races were poor and I want to do better in Hungary.”
FIA Formula 3 European Championship,
Pau – race 1 results01. Esteban Ocon (F), Dallara-Mercedes 27 laps in 35m 36.291s02. Lucas Auer (D), Dallara-Mercedes + 2.992s03. Max Verstappen (NL), Dallara-Volkswagen + 5.951s04. ake Dennis (GB), Dallara-Volkswagen + 11.368s05. Jordan King (GB), Dallara-Volkswagen + 12.673s...07. Antonio Giovinazzi (I), Dallara-Volkswagen + 15.797s08. Edward Jones (UAE), Dallara-Volkswagen + 21.196s10. Sean Gelael (RI), Dallara-Volkswagen + 24.864s11. Tom Blomqvist (GB), Dallara-Volkswagen + 26.059s15. Gustavo Menezes (USA), Dallara-Volkswagen + 29.548s19. Jules Szymkowiak (NL), Dallara-Volkswagen + 35.525sPau – race 2 results01. Tom Blomqvist (GB), Dallara-Volkswagen 22 laps in 36m 11.933s02. Esteban Ocon (F), Dallara-Mercedes + 4.551s03. Jake Dennis (GB), Dallara-Volkswagen + 4.652s04. Antonio Giovinazzi (I), Dallara-Volkswagen + 4.910s...13. Gustavo Menezes (USA), Dallara-Volkswagen + 34.013s18. Jordan King (GB), Dallara-Volkswagen - 2 laps Edward Jones (UAE), Dallara-Volkswagen - 6 laps Jules Szymkowiak (NL), Dallara-Volkswagen - 7 laps Sean Gelael (RI), Dallara-Volkswagen - 9 laps Max Verstappen (NL), Dallara-Volkswagen - 11 laps
Pau – race 3 results01. Felix Rosenqvist (S), Dallara-Mercedes 29 laps in 36m 01.050s02. Esteban Ocon (F), Dallara-Mercedes + 0.829s03. Tom Blomqvist (GB), Dallara-Volkswagen + 3.401s04. Jake Dennis (GB), Dallara-Volkswagen + 5.865s...09. Jake Dennis (GB), Dallara-Volkswagen + 10.356s10. Antonio Giovinazzi (I), Dallara-Volkswagen + 11.449s14. Jules Szymkowiak (NL), Dallara-Volkswagen + 20.433s17. Edward Jones (UAE), Dallara-Volkswagen + 44.458s Max Verstappen (NL), Dallara-Volkswagen - 28 laps Gustavo Menezes (USA), Dallara-Volkswagen - 28 laps
