21st June 2006
Conway and Gonzalez lead as British F3 heads to Ireland
Rounds 7 & 8 of the 2006 Lloyds TSB Insurance British F3 International Series at Mondello Park
With six races completed of the 20-race series, Britain’s Mike Conway heads to the Republic of Ireland as the British F3 International series leader, seven points clear of his Räikkönen Robertson Racing team-mate Bruno Senna.
Conway, who took the series lead after two superb performances on the streets of Pau, in the South of France, is also confident of doing well in Ireland, where he took a podium finish in 2005. "Mondello's a good circuit - tight and twisty - and some of the corners are similar to a street circuit, only they're quite slow. We were there in November testing and we had a good setup then and a good setup at Pau so I think we should be strong,” he commented. “I think that it is more of a challenge and the drivers that don't like it probably won't do well there. A lot of F3 drivers don't like Mondello because they see it as not really being suited to F3 cars. It's got quite short straights so I think that in overtaking terms it's quite hard, but it is possible. The Mercedes engine has got good torque that should pull really well out of each corner so we'll just take it from there."
Both of Conway’s team-mates, Bruno Senna and Stephen Jelley, raced at Mondello in 2005. After seeing Conway take the championship lead in France, Senna will be looking for a return to the form that saw him take three wins in opening three races of the 2006 season. Jelley will be looking for his first win of the year after scoring two podiums at Oulton Park and at Donington.
“I think that Mondello Park will be a good circuit to be going straight after Pau, as the car setup should be pretty similar and the driving style as well,” said Bruno Senna. “It’s not my favourite circuit on the calendar, but it doesn’t really matter as we are in a Championship and I have to try and be competitive everywhere. Certainly the team will be strong and we’re still looking forward to that 1-2-3 finish, which I intend to be on the top.”
The Mugen-Honda powered Carlin Motorsport team have seen some consistent point scoring from their drivers, but the top step of the podium has been elusive so far for the reigning British F3 Championship winning team. Oliver Jarvis and Maro Engel have been regular visitors to the podium and this has allowed them to stay in touch with Conway and Senna in the title race, with both drivers currently tied in 3rd place on 57 points. However, the team knows that they will have to start recording race wins if they are to continue to be a threat to the Räikkönen Robertson Racing leading duo. “I’m looking forward to racing at Mondello as it is one of the few tracks I've been to,” Engel explained. “ I tested an F3 car there before the start of the season which went very well. I'm quite confident of doing well in Ireland, aiming for two podium finishes and hoping for my first win in British F3.”
Hitech Racing’s trio of drivers have shown flashes of brilliance and speed this year, with James Walker finishing well when not dogged by bad luck on the track. The Mercedes-powered, Silverstone-based squad is quietly confident that Mondello will be the track where it all comes together for them. “Out of all the circuits this year, I am very excited about this round,” James Walker said. “Mondello is a very technical circuit and I have always been quick here, in fact I think I still hold the Formula Ford lap record. We have been working really hard in testing and the new things we have tried have worked so I am feeling very positive. Basically I am going out there to be quick in every session and get race wins, performance has always been there and hopefully all our bad luck is now behind us.”
Fortec Motorsport’s Yelmer Buurman has been steadily scoring championship points in his debut British F3 season. The driver from Ubbergen in the Netherlands, who graduated from the team’s Formula Renault squad, finished behind Conway in the second race at Pau and is currently lying in 5th, just three points behind Jarvis and Engel.
In the National Class, T-Sport driver Rodolfo Gonzalez continues to dominate, but his 100% record came to an end in Pau when he failed to finish in the second race after an accident. However, five wins from six starts, with four fastest laps, has left the Venezuelan driver with a healthy 36-point lead over Fluid Motorsport Development’s Cristiano Morgado.
Morgado’s team mate, Martin Kudzak, is the only driver not to travel to Ireland, further to the damage sustained by his car on the streets of Pau. However the team reports that the 16-year-old Swede will be back for Rounds 9 & 10, which will take place at Snetterton on the 16th July.
The event at Mondello Park, near Dublin, takes place on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th June: It will feature rounds 7 & 8 of the 2006 Lloyds TSB International British F3 International Series and two 60-minute races for the 2006 Avon Tyres British GT Championship. The first 30-minute British F3 race takes place on Sunday morning at 11:05, with the second race on Sunday afternoon at 15:50.
For further information on the Lloyds TSB International British F3 International Series visit www.fota.co.uk and for information on Mondello Park visit www.mondellopark.ie
