Formula 3 Euro Series held an official test day on Wednesday at Valencia (Spain). Borja Garcia finished both test sessions on the top of the time sheets leaving drivers like Rosberg, Lapierre, Hamilton, Salignon and Green behind him.
During the Open Formula 3 Winter Series races at the end of February the young Spaniard was impressive - driving a car with around 30 hp less than Nico Rosberg, Garcia managed to get on the podium twice in second, but lost just two seconds on Rosberg during the second sixteen lap race.
Miguel Angel Galvez, engineer on Borja Garcia’s car during the test said:
“Borja got used to the car very quickly and was very impressed by the engine and the sequential gearbox. In comparison to the Spanish F3 car, the F3 Euro Series car has more grip in the front and has much more low-end torque. Borja really impressed the entire paddock.”
Borja Garcia, after his first time in a Formula 3 Euro Series car, announced,
“This morning we had to adapt the car a lot to the track and my driving style and I was able to permanently improve my lap times. I was not very lucky after the new tires were mounted as I was stopped by a red flag on the fast lap. So my tires were not perfect after, but I still marked the best lap time in the morning session.
"In the afternoon session we continued the work on the car and a proper set up. I marked the fastest lap time still with old tires, and when mounting the new set, I faced the same situation as in the morning session. Again there was a red flag and after there was a lot of traffic on the track. But I improved the lap time again and was the fastest driver in the afternoon session as well. I had a very intense week, testing the Spanish F3 with Racing Engineering yesterday, today I am with the Euro F3. Tomorrow I will be testing with Racing Engineering in Albacete and I am happy that on Friday I can test with Team Ghinzani the Euro F3 car again.
"I would really like to thank Team Ghinzani and my engineers Miguel Angel and Philippe, who did a great job. For me personally this day has been fascinating. It was my first time in this car and I was faster than all the other drivers with much more experience with this car and drivers coming from the English Formula 3 Championship.”
Borja Garcia’s manager, Alfonso de Orleans-Borbon, said,
“First of all I would like to thank Mr. Ghinzani for this opportunity to try out Borja. He has a very good team of mechanics and personnel, which produced conditions that were ideal for this young driver to express himself. In regards to Borja, I was very surprised by the amount of people that came up to me asking about him. At the moment there are many people interested in him and we have to see what is best for his future. We know that he is fast, and we know that he is capable of winning this championship, now the others know as well.”
1. Garcia Borja - Team Ghinzani - 1:28,448
2. Lapierre Nicolas - OPEL-Team Signature - 1:28,558
3. La Rosa Daniel - HBR Motorsport - 1:28,638
4. Zwolsman Charles - Manor Motorsport - 1:28,644
5. Salignon Eric - ASM Formule 3 - 1:28,673
6. Spengler Bruno - Mücke Motorsport - 1:28,774
7. Green Jamie - ASM Formule 3 - 1:28,791
8. Kubica Robert - Mücke Motorsport - 1:28,876
9. Hamilton Lewis - Manor Motorsport - 1:28,894
10.Rees Fernando - Swiss Racing Team - 1:28,981
