The threatened rain played its predicted role in the outcome of the 14th round of the Lloyds TSB Insurance British Formula 3 International Series at Spa at the weekend but it could do nothing to dampen the mood in the Hitech Racing camp. The Championship leaders leave the Belgian track with its lead intact, after drivers Marko Asmer and Walter Grubmüller finished eighth and 13th respectively.
A wet track greeted the grid as they formed up for the off, and as the race start neared, the heavens opened forcing the organisers to start the race behind the safety car. After two laps the race finally got underway, but after just four racing laps, the safety car was again deployed to remove the stricken cars of Ricardo Teixeira and Esteban Guerrieri.
With the safety car on track right up to the chequered flag which signalled the end of the race after 30 minutes, both Marko and Walter were unable to move up through the order.
“It was a bit of a non-event to be honest,” said team Principal David Hayle. “The race hardly got started, before the safety car came out again, leaving both Marko and Walter with little to do except get to the finish in one piece. But despite the best efforts of several people to ruin our weekend, we still have a healthy lead in the Championship heading to our home event, where we will be going all out for double victory and at this stage I’d rather be 60 points in front than 60 points behind.
“Before that we also look forward to our next event, the Masters of F3 at Zolder next weekend where we’ll be looking to bounce back to the front and attempt to beat the cream of European racers.”
“It was a pretty uneventful race,” said Walter. “There were just four racing laps and it was hard to even see the braking points with all the spray, so there was not much chance of moving up so we pretty much stayed where we were.”
“Obviously I want to win every race but it’s not always possible,” said Marko. “But it’s only the first weekend in seven that we didn’t win so I’m not complaining. When I have a race like this I just get more determined to win next time which is what we will do in Silverstone and I can’t wait.”
Lloyds TSB Insurance British Formula 3 International Series
Round 14 – Results
1 Jonathan KENNARD Dallara F307 Mercedes HWA 31:27.1722 Maro ENGEL Dallara F307 Mercedes HWA 31:27.772 3 Sam BIRD Dallara F307 Mercedes HWA 31:28.3964 Stephen JELLEY Dallara F307 Mercedes HWA 31:28.872
5 Mario MORAES Dallara F307 Mercedes HWA 6 Atte MUSTONEN Dallara F307 Mercedes HWA 31:29.435
8 Marko ASMER EST Dallara F307 Mercedes HWA 31:31.178 13 Walter GRUBMÜLLER Dallara F307 Mercedes HWA 31:35.306
Championship points after Round 14
1 Marko Asmer 198
2 Sam Bird 138
3 Maro Engel 126
4 Stephen Jelley 122
5 Jonathan Kennard 114
6 Niall Breen 101
