British F3 - Round 2 - Croft

Aftera gap of what seems like forever the racing starts again at Croft this weekend. There's a preview here (http://www.fota.co.uk/news.php?action=showArticle&params%5Bid%5D=566) and an entry list here (http://www.fota.co.uk/content/reports/17_Entrants.pdf). There are some more cars, compared with the opeining round, but Oliver Oakes has barely done any testing, whilst Viktor Jensen will have done none until tomorrow's free practice sessions, so don't expect too much of those two just yet.

The other teams have been testing hard during the interval, including two days at Croft, so this weekend should give a better idea of what to expect for the rest of the season. Or maybe not. Monza comes next, which is always a highlight of the season.

I'm going up there for this one - at the moment it seems that yet again we're gunna have extreme conditions on race day. Last time it was sleet/snow this time its heavy rain. However that could actually make things interesting as although Croft is a drivers circuit it doesn't often offer much in the way of racing due to its nature.

I think you can't really look beyond the Carlin pair of Hartley and Agusuari for this one although I expect Marcus Ericsson to be champing at their heals. Although if it does rain then that could throw some new names into the ring. Whatever I'm sure Trevor Carlin just hopes his guys can stay out of the sand pit this time!

National Class - I'll be watching with great interest as to Stefan Wilson after his dismal showings so far. Could Jay Bridger mix it with some of the top guys if it rains? He's been quite a surprise this year.

I have to say the support races this weekend are dismal. I also don't understand why there are only 2 Formula Ford races this weekend when there were 3 at Oulton? I'm not sure the MG Trophy grabs me quite the same!

Agreed, rain should spice up the racing element to Croft this weekend.

Obviousley still early to be talking about the title, but Mustonen and Hohenthal must be looking for a wins over the weekend, to establish themselves in the championship hunt and show the new kids on the block what they are about.

As ever will be keeping a keen eye on the Mygales. Both Guerreri and Deveany will fancy there chances of landing Ultimate's first podium and I'm sure any rain will only help there cause.

Time to perform Mr Wilson;)

Rain's good, not hard to imagine in F3. Ericsson's been impressive so far, so I'm with you on that one Gaz. Just an aside, nary a sponsor on Major's sidepods in the photos from Oulton, that I could see. Wow.

Wonder how he got the drive then? Rich parents?

Philip Major's father is/was a pretty big boss at Cisco Systems if I recall correctly. I don't know how rich he is though. ;)

Sergio Perez was fastest in dry testing in T-Sport's Mugen-Honda powered Dallara this morning, but Sam Abay took the honours in the wet second session. Reports here (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/66830) and here (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/66863).

Last time I looked, the weather forecast for tomorrow was light rain and for Sunday light showers, although the locals seem to expect it to be worse than that. :( Still, it should be interesting

hoping for a good result from the mygale cars

Is there a weather update this morning?

it was overcast most of the day - the cloud was high. if it stays like that tomorrow it'll not rain. can't be arsed to look out of the window to check if it's changed now though ;)

the second race could be very interesting - the grid is quite different to the first race so there should be a fair bit of overtaking. having said that it'll be a nose to tail snore-a-thon, then ;)

[QUOTE=bella]can't be arsed to look out of the window to check if it's changed now though ;)QUOTE]

There's a future for you in commentary, you know that, right?...

[quote=bella]can't be arsed to look out of the window to check if it's changed now though ;)QUOTE]

There's a future for you in commentary, you know that, right?...

Yes, I heard Bella's been asked to cover WSR and GP2 this year:laugh:

Sorry Martin you left yourself open for that one;)

nb:refering to world series monza thread if people are wondering.

For info - just checked the Met Office forecast for the area - Sunday is forecast to be heavy rain between 1000 and 1600 hours. Didn't need my orange waterproofs on post today but I think I'll put them on before I leave the house tomorrow! As least most of the Croft posts have got sheds now - sorry, I mean luxury log cabins!!!

Very nice to see Mr Hartley on pole for Race 2

A quick question - What is the qualifying format for F3?

Sorry if it seams like a dumb question, we have not seen much of this series in NZ

[quote=Martin Haven]

Yes, I heard Bella's been asked to cover WSR and GP2 this year:laugh:

Sorry Martin you left yourself open for that one;)

nb:refering to world series monza thread if people are wondering.

At least the gig has gome to someone who is prepared to put in the correct amount of prep!!!:rofl:

Congratulations to Sergio Perez :winner: First mexican to win in BF3 and puts honda on the map this year - will this add to the mercedes "we don't want to play anymore" rumblings

What happened to Devaney ? Seemed all set for 3rd on last lap then ended up nowhere. Did he come under presure from team mate Guerreri ?

Mygale on the podium ! Well done Ultimate :third:

Seems odd that Chilton managed quickest lap 1:18.711 far quicker than anyone else in the field? cheeky short cut or just a blinding lap?

Very nice to see Mr Hartley on pole for Race 2

A quick question - What is the qualifying format for F3?

Sorry if it seams like a dumb question, we have not seen much of this series in NZThere's a separate 30-minute qualifying session for each race.

Brendon converted his pole position into a commanding win in race 2, but Sergio Perez was 2nd and now leads the title chase. A brilliant effort by T-Sport, Neil Brown Engineering and Sergio himself, who drove particularly well in the first race, which was run on a difficult, drying track

Perez 1 and 2? There's a development!!

As Patrick Head once said about something this season's looking 'very tasty'

Great, great affort by 'Honda's' crew. Am happy for them and ashamed I wasn't there to celebrate with NBE/T-Sport/Perez blokes. Can we expect of such results? Hope so.

Congratulations to Sergio Perez :winner: First mexican to win in BF3 and puts honda on the map this year - will this add to the mercedes "we don't want to play anymore" rumblings

What happened to Devaney ? Seemed all set for 3rd on last lap then ended up nowhere. Did he come under presure from team mate Guerreri ? Mygale on the podium ! Well done Ultimate :third: Apparently Devaney's engine was cutting out occasionally throughout the race. Guerreri caught up with him and then went past in an *everyone hold your breath manoeuvre* at Tower. Eventually the engine cut out completely on the very last corner, but Devaney just had enough momentum to crawl across the line, but had lost loads of places by then. Otherwise it would have been Mygale 3rd and 4th.
Seems odd that Chilton managed quickest lap 1:18.711 far quicker than anyone else in the field? cheeky short cut or just a blinding lap?Well spotted! The race was run on a drying track with fastest lap changing hands every lap. Max was nowhere in the race, so they took the chance of switching him to slicks in the hope that he would be able to get a point for fastest lap, which he did on the very last lap. ;)

Cheers for the update Strider:beer: very efficient as ever !

From reading the reports, looked like a cracking weekend of racing. Just wished I could have been there. Look forward to the highlights next sunday 7.45am channel 4 (uk)

Bring on Monza !

there weren't many highlights in race 2 except devaney picking off 3 around the outside at tower on the original lap 1, but race 1 had some good stuff - far more than the spanish gp by the looks of the highlights show on last night ;)

Unfortunately I'll only remember race 2 for the 6 car pile up which headed straight at me.

There was a big multi-car pileup on the first attempt at race two, down at Barcroft & Sunny In. A marshal suffered a broken leg and 6 cars were immediately eliminated. Took a while to clear up after the red flag eventually came out!

As a racer sidelined so far this season with a broken leg the marshall has my deepest sympathy. What happened, was Henry Arundel involved in that as I have seen a photo of his car looking a little bent

autosport has a reasonable description. the cars involved were esteban guerrieri, marcus ericsson, henry arundel, niall quinn, sam abay and oliver oakes. i think autosport mentions that it was a chain reaction from a perez/ericsson interface.

Looked that way, we just saw them getting together as they went out of sight from the complex, only realised how many had been taken out when the wrecks started coming back!