Double R Racing endured an unbelievably luckless visit to Germanys Norisring over the weekend, 13th/14th July, where several race incidents cost the British squad any chance of battling for points during rounds 16, 17 and 18 of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship.Just a week on from the standalone RTL GP Masters of Formula 3 at Zandvoort in The Netherlands, where Double R delivered a strong top 10 performance, the Woking team encountered all sorts of misfortune on its visit to Nuremberg. Indonesian youngster Sean Gelael, however, did provide some cheer with an assured top 15 showing in the third of the weekends encounters.While round 18 was the highlight of the event for Anthony Boyo Hieatts squad courtesy of Gelaels well-judged drive through the order from 22nd on the grid, it was less fortunate for the 16-year-olds team-mates Antonio Giovinazzi and Tatiana Caldern.Italian racer Giovinazzi had to retire on lap 12 with damage after his Dallara-Mercedes was clouted by the car of Lucas Wolf, as the Double R driver got a run around the outside of the German out of the last hairpin as they diced over 15th position. Caldern, meanwhile, wasnt even able to take the race start after suffering a bout of food poisoning overnight.Saturdays opening race, though, was the nadir of the weekend for Double R with all three drivers forced to retire. Gelael, who started in 23rd place on the grid, ended his involvement on lap six following a tangle with Mitchell Gilbert which resulted in a broken track rod.Giovinazzi, who had realistic hopes of a points challenge from 14th on the grid, was the victim of contact from Sven Muller on lap 32, while Calderns race ended on lap 15 after a collision involving fellow female competitor Michela Cerruti.
Round 17 on Saturday afternoon at least saw all three Mercedes-powered Double R Dallaras take the chequered flag, Gelael being the highest placed of the team-mates in 21st position after moving up from 23rd on the grid.
Giovinazzi finished two places further back, and a lap down, after serving a drive-through penalty early on having been adjudged to have made a false start. Caldern, meanwhile, ended the race in 26th position.
That was definitely the toughest and most disappointing weekend of the season so far, whatever could go wrong did go wrong really, said team principal Hieatt, Antonio wasnt much more than three tenths off pole in qualifying, we definitely had the pace for some points but it wasnt to be.Sean did a great job in race three, it was a strong drive from him to get into the top 15, and it was a real shame Tatiana couldnt race on Sunday because of food poisoning. Its been tough, very tough, but well all bounce back at the next one and aim to get back in the points.Rounds 19, 20 and 21 of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship will take place over the weekend 17th/18th August at the Nurburgring, in Germany. Before then, Double R Racing will be in action for the second race meeting of the 2013 Cooper Tires British F3 International Series less than a fortnight from now, on Friday, 26th July, and Saturday, 27th July, at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.
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