British F3 Rockingham

[Richard B]

After 2 overseas rounds the British F3 series returns to the UK this weekend at Rockingham.

Event Preview
http://www.formula3.co/news/rockingh...rmula-3-battle

Prov Timetable
http://www.rockingham.co.uk/raceeven...June2012-2.pdf

[Richard B]

Test session this morning (no doubt wet and windy) Sainz Jr fastest follwed by Derani and Van Asseldonk. Seem like only 13 cars were out!

[bella]

if it's as soggy here as it is there, i don't blame them!

who was on the pace here in pre-season testing? was there such a thing as a dry session?

[Richard B]

Back in March fastest on the second day was Tincknel, Harvey & Sainz; Deraini was only 10th. Since it's forecast to be dry tomorrow (please!) maybe the March test is a better benchmarck.

[Richard B]

Rockingham Friday test times AM/PM.
Interesting that the 2 quickest this morning Sainz and Derani were both slower than their morning times this afternoon:

1 Alex LYNN / GBR, Fortec Dallara-Mercedes 1m 39.336s / 1m 36.935s
2 Pietro FANTIN / BRA, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 1m 39.238s / 1m 37.664s
3 Hannes VAN ASSELDONK / NED, Fortec Dallara-Mercedes 1m 38.895s / 1m 38.021s
4 Felix SERRALLES / PUR, Fortec Dallara-Mercedes 1m 40.905s / 1m 38.061s
5 Carlos SAINZ / ESP, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 1m 38.193s / 1m 38.959s
6 Jack HARVEY / GBR, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 1m 39.231s / 1m 38.641s
7 Harry TINCKNELL / GBR, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 1m 39.239s / 1m 38.711s
8 Pipo DERANI / BRA, Fortec Dallara-Mercedes 1m 38.770s / 1m 38.841s
9 Nick McBRIDE / AUS, T-Sport Dallara-Nissan 1m 39.940s / 1m 38.876s
10 Jazeman JAAFAR / MAS, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 1m 39.187s / 1m 38.906s
11 Geoff UHRHANE / AUS, Double R Dallara-Mercedes 1m 41.124s / 1m 40.371s
12 Fahmi ILYAS / MAS, Double R Dallara-Mercedes 1m 40.652s / 1m 40.450s

National class
1 Spike GODDARD / AUS, T-Sport Dallara-Mugen Honda 1m 44.984s / 1m 42.090s
2 Duvashen PADAYACHEE / AUS, Double R Dallara-Mugen 1m 45.628s / 1m 42.184s

[CATMAN]

Not surprised to see Derani slower in second session, think he lacks strength. Still looks pretty dire, T-Sport car circulating along with 2xR S**** and the B class is a joke with just the 2 cars.
T-Sport & 2xR can always hope that the others fall off as they show little improvement.

[REALIST]

Originally Posted by CATMAN

Not surprised to see Derani slower in second session, think he lacks strength.

He was less than one tenth slower in the pm! How does that add up to a lack of strength?

[Juntos]

What is the point of racing in National Class? Waiting for the fallout.

[CATMAN]

Originally Posted by Juntos

What is the point of racing in National Class? Waiting for the fallout.

Well for the two contenders this year they'll always be able to say that they came 1st or 2nd in a British F3 championship

[Go_For_Pole]

So nice to see Jazeman and Jack on top of the standings, top guys and great drivers. Come on boys!

[edenrace]

Most drivers run for 2 years in F3 as it is one of the rare series where you can work on developing your car. Therefore a first year in the National car can be up to 40% cheaper than running in the International class....same,tyres,tracks, gearbox ,brakes etc

[edenrace]

Oh and it did not harm Sergio Perez ...British F3 National Champion 2007

[CATMAN]

There are obviously the financial savings for doing National class but the driver still has to change to a different F3 car if he does International the next year and compete with others who have already done a season in the International car.
If there were 4 or more national class cars competing there could be just a tad of credibility. Padayachee tweets and team and fota retweets on winning and fastest lap is pretty lame when there is only him and Goddard in the hunt. I might as well get my 80 year ex racer uncle in to his old nomex suit and stick him in a national class F3. He couldn't do any worse than P3

[bella]

do either of you think that there's a benefit to be had from the fact a driver from a pro series for a round or two of their choosing is a new benchmark? (sorry, i can't brain that right in english)

it's almost like the series needs rules so that data from his (and any other current f3 series or above drivers) fastest qualifying lap should be available to everyone to have a look at and see what the fuss is about or something...

[Flavio Galtieri]

Originally Posted by bella

do either of you think that there's a benefit to be had from the fact a driver from a pro series for a round or two of their choosing is a new benchmark? (sorry, i can't brain that right in english)

it's almost like the series needs rules so that data from his (and any other current f3 series or above drivers) fastest qualifying lap should be available to everyone to have a look at and see what the fuss is about or something...

No.

No benefit at all. Too much disparity regarding age and models of cars, engines etc.

He's trying to earn a living from motor sport. Good luck to him but he should allow others with full time jobs to indulge their passions without interference. It is a little disrespectful imho.

What next? Let's have Wayne Rooney showing up at a Sunday League match to "learn the pitch" and score 10 goals? Pathetic.

If his managers had any sense of honour he would have had a "misfire" on the penultimate lap and pitted. Or pulled off somewhere safe and "stalled the car".

It's all a bit Harry Enfield for me I'm afraid....

[EastonNeston]

In my opinion it is no different to a test match cricketer playing for his local club in the county premier league. It actually allows the others taking part to see how they compare against someone at the top of his game.

I don't know where he finished or his lap times, but if he was miles faster he wouldn't have affected the regulars race anyway. It might actually encouraged some of the regulars to raise their game, that's what usually happens in cricket anyway.

[MikeHoyer]

Don't see the problem myself. Should every person with a racing license be specifically graded and told where they can and can't compete?

[Flavio Galtieri]

@Easton. You might not feel so happy if you were the cricketer who got dropped to allow the pro to get some practice.

@Mike. Yes that's exactly what a licensing system should do. To both prevent inexperienced but rich children racing 500bhp single seaters just because Dad can afford it and to prevent experienced "pros" going on "learning" expeditions in amateur championships.

[edenrace]

I get the feeling that the MSV F3 competitors wish to keep this series as a genuine clubbie event which is great. I think that what Alex did was to show the standard of driving in many series as he although an excellent driver at 18 years old he is still learning and will improve as he gains more experience.

[bella]

at risk of interrupting the frantic pearl-clutching... this is something that needs to be taken up by the competitors with the organisers really. don't get me wrong, it's valid to discuss but i feel like i've stumbled into the comments section of the daily mail here.

perhaps if guest drivers already competing in a big expensive series were excluded from all but the basic classifications and not allowed to get a trophy then the existing competitors might not feel like their toes were being trodden on?

i think the cricket analogy is a fair one rather than the football one.

[EastonNeston]

@Flavio, maybe, I was never good enough to play at that level. However in many countries first class and test players still play for their local clubs when they are available. Even Geoff Boycott played for his local club when he could. In Alex's case, he didn't stop anyone from driving, nobody was left off the grid so he could race and he was a good benchmark to the others to show what the car could do.
Also, by taking part in the race he injected money not only into the team he drove for but also the local economy around Spa. I'm sure they were more than happy to accept his money.
Other f3 drivers have taken part in historic or sports at races to learn circuits, eg Tincknell & Foresti at Paul Ricard last year. Should that have been prevented too?

[barnettracing]

Yeah, I don't see any problem in it at all. Personally I'd have relished the chance to race against a British F3 driver to see how I stacked up. All the regulars would have had a slight initial advantage anyway as Alex would've been in an unfamiliar car (and some of the MSV F3 guys raced at Spa last year too, giving them extra circuit experience).

I'd imagine that the experience was valuable for him to. Although the F312 is different to the F307 he drove, I'd imagine they aren't a million miles away from one another and any half reasonable driver would be able to transfer the experience learnt.

As many will have seen, Joey Foster raced at Thruxton last weekend. In Race One I finished second. If he hadn't have been there I would've won. But I don't car. It was great to see how I stacked up against Joey. I'd certainly relish the opportunity to race anyone from higher categories.

[Flavio Galtieri]

Well you are all far more generous of spirit than a grumpy old man like me that's all I can say.

Now that I seem to have reminded Bella of the dreaded Daily Wail correspondence columns I know when I'm beaten so I'm off back into my box....with a copy of the New Statesman of course.

[barnettracing]

Originally Posted by Flavio Galtieri

Well you are all far more generous of spirit than a grumpy old man like me that's all I can say.

Now, the 16 year old karting whippets that take part in the IST is another matter Flavio

[Richard B]

Seeing as the Rockingham thread seems to have gone a little off track (onto the green stuff) and Brands Hatch F3 is this weekend...time for a new thread me thinks.