Alex Lynn emerged from a tough weekend in the British Formula 3 International Series at Spa-Francorchamps with two more strong points finishes that cemented his hold on fifth place in the championship standings.
The F3 rookie claimed fifth in the first race and seventh in the second, after starring in qualifying to claim a second-row berth on the grid for both races.
With the drivers from the British F3 ranks in the ascendancy over their rivals from the FIA European F3 Championship, Lynn was third fastest in qualifying, taking that position on the grid for Saturdays race. On second-best lap times, which set the grid for Fridays action, he narrowly lost out to recent Masters of F3 victor Daniel Juncadella to take fourth.
It was pretty good, said Alex of his Mercedes-powered Fortec Motorsport Dallara. I was happy with that, especially as I didnt do any of my best laps with any mega tows down the long straight. It proves that we are well in with a shout on any circuit.
At the start of the first race, which took place in baking weather at 33 degrees Celsius, Lynn made a good start to try a move down the inside of polesitting Fortec team-mate Felix Serralles. As the track narrowed I found myself being pushed towards the inside, and I had all four wheels on the grass, said Alex. That was really frustrating because we should have come out of the first hairpin in the lead.
Instead, Lynn emerged in fifth place, then lost places later in the race to pre-weekend British F3 points leader Jack Harvey and European title racer Michael Lewis. On the final lap, he was able to snatch sixth back with an opportunist pass on Lewis, giving him fifth in the British F3 classification.
I just didnt seem to have the pace to keep Jack behind, Alex continued. It was good to repass Lewis and I even almost caught Jazeman Jaafar on the line. One lap more and a move would definitely have been on.
In the second race, which took place in the wet, Lynn lost places at the start but moved up to put immense pressure on Fortec team-mate Pipo Derani. But the Brazilian defended and then, when the rain came down more heavily, Alex felt the balance was not as well suited to those conditions. From then on it was a case of keeping the car on the track, which he did to claim 11th, seventh in the British F3 rankings.
I had a pretty disappointing start and to be fair it was a bit of a struggle, said Lynn, who is a member of the FIA Institute Young Driver Excellence Academy, the MSAs Team UK and the British Racing Drivers Clubs SuperStars programme. We were really quick when the track was starting to dry out but I was stuck behind Pipo. He was really defending heavily and I could see the others getting away, and then when it started to rain again it got worse.
The points are reasonable. We were pretty quick in qualifying but we just didnt have enough race pace this weekend.
Lynns next action is back on home soil at Snetterton in Norfolk next weekend, August 4/5, with the eighth round of the British F3 International Series.
