Hitech Racing has got its title bid very firmly on track with two dominant lights to flag victories in Rounds 15 and 16 of the Lloyds TSB Insurance British Formula 3 International Series at Silverstone today. The team, based just down the road from the home of the British Grand Prix, qualified on pole with Estonian Marko Asmer for both races and two superbly controlled drives from the 23 year-old earnt him wins eight and nine to extend his series lead to 84 points.
His young team-mate, Austrian Walter Grubmüller was not so fortunate. In race one the youngster recovered from a tap from Sergio Perez which sent the 18 year-old rookie into a spin and dropped him down to last but he clawed his way back to 12th at the flag. In race two, a left rear puncture on the second lap eventually ended his race as he felt the car was not handling to his liking after it was replaced.
Team principal David Hayle was understandably delighted with the performance which saw Marko also claim the fastest lap in each race to put himself and the team well on course to clinch the title but with six rounds remaining is unwilling to think that far ahead.
David Hayle: It’s absolutely fantastic, everything you want to get you get in one weekend and when it comes it does so on your home track. It doesn’t get any better than that. It may have looked easy, but it’s never as easy as it looks. Looking ahead to the championship, well if you win every race you win the championship, if you win the most races you win the championship, so we have to concentrate on winning as many of the remaining races as possible.
“Sadly, it didn’t go as well for Walter though, he got a puncture in the second race, which we replaced but after that there was a problem with the car, it just wasn’t how he liked it and he wasn’t comfortable driving it so in the end we decided to play it safe, but it didn’t stop him doing 5th fastest lap of the race.”
Marko Asmer: What a perfect weekend for me and the team at our home track. In race one, I got the gap to three seconds then I made a big mistake at the hairpin, I almost spun, then I just had to slow down but I could see Maro was not closing and it was only six laps to go, so I eased it back a bit. In race two, the start was OK and I just pushed very hard early on to try and get away from him and in the end it was fairly easy. A great weekend, I’m very happy for the team.”
Walter Grubmüller: “In the first race I got a good start and passed three cars going into Copse but after that I had a touch from Perez which put me into a spin and onto the grass and I rejoined last. But thankfully because of the safety car I was able to get onto the back of the pack and then at the restart I had to work my way through. But it was a long race, which was fun, but also frustrating because we could have finished a lot higher. In race two, I got a left rear puncture and after that the car didn’t feel quite right so we had to retire.”
Results of Round 15 – 22 laps
1. Marko Asmer Dallara Mercedes HWA 30:13.633
2. Maro Engel Dallara Mercedes HWA 30:15.289
3. Atte Mustonen Dallara Mercedes HWA 30:18.333
4. Greg Mansell Dallara Mercedes HWA 30:20.897
5. Stephen Jelley Dallara Mercedes HWA 30:27.532
6. Sam Bird Dallara Mercedes HWA 30:29.015
12. Walter Grubmüller Dallara Mercedes HWA 30:54.078
Fastest lap: Asmer 1:15.943 106.61mph 171.57kph
Results of Round 16 – 24 laps
1. Marko Asmer Dallara Mercedes HWA 30:47.439
2. Maro Engel Dallara Mercedes HWA 30:54.210
3. Greg Mansell Dallara Mercedes HWA 30:56.844
4. Michael Devaney Mygale Mercedes HWA 31:00.164
5. Alberto Valerio Dallara Mercedes HWA 31:08.054
6. Sam Bird Dallara Mercedes HWA31:12.214
Fastest lap: Asmer 1:16.094 106.39mph 171.23kph
Championship points after Round 16
1 Marko Asmer 240
2 Maro Engel 156
2 Sam Bird 150
4 Stephen Jelley 131
5 Jonathan Kennard 115
6 Niall Breen 107
