2011 FR3.5 Series Off-season Thread

[runshaw]

Originally Posted by Daisy

So if I counted correctly there are still 3 seats left? One at Mofaz, one at Pons and one at Epic?

Chris van der Drift has signed for Mofaz to partner Rosenzweig. Good call. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/90541

[runshaw]

Oops you beat me to it by 1 minute Daisy!

[bella]

now *that's* a last minute signing.

[Daisy]

Absolutely. Hope Pentus can score on of the remaining 2 seats, he did well last year.

[runshaw]

I think Pentus was a revelation, does anyone else think that? He came into FR3.5 with absolutely NO previous good results in junior formulas. Unless you call a podium in FR BARC 'good' (second string series to FR UK). I was surprised that he was solid in 2009 too. I mean, how has he managed to step up to an ultra competetive formula and become a double race winner from literally no impressive past results in lower categories? Reminds me of Nigel Melker. No wins, no podiums, no nothing in FR. He was 23rd in the FR Eurocup in 2009. Then he goes to GP3 last year and claims 2 poles from nowhere, and he's just won in Euro F3. Bizarre.

[Valker]

Originally Posted by runshaw

I think Pentus was a revelation, does anyone else think that? He came into FR3.5 with absolutely NO previous good results in junior formulas.

Maybe Formula Baltic doesn't count as a junior formula, but I think Sten won the Baltic championship atleast twice

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by bella

now *that's* a last minute signing.

Yay, come on Chris!!!!!

Oh i'm sooo upset by that news as you can tell....

[Daisy]

Originally Posted by Valker

Maybe Formula Baltic doesn't count as a junior formula, but I think Sten won the Baltic championship atleast twice

I can recall a certain Russian driver, who wasn't very impressive untill his second year in GP2, and just scored his first F1 podium 2 weeks ago. Drivers can improve.

[bella]

i think "learn" and "improve" are the same thing - is it that drivers who haven't been karting since they could walk have more to learn or is it that they're more receptive to learning and changing?

nuff respect for sten - anyone else rapidly approaching their 30s will know what i mean when i say it's refreshing that someone who actually lived and went to school in the 80s is still bringing it to the 1990s kids

[Last2LiftOff]

Originally Posted by Rf1 Fan

Rnd Date Venue Event
1 17 April Motorland Aragon, Spain World Series by Renault
2 1 May Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium WsbR
3 15 May Monza, Italy WTCC
4 29 May Monte Carlo, Monaco Formula 1
5 19 June Nurburgring, Germany WsbR
6 3 July Hungaroring, Hungary WsbR
7 21 August Silverstone, Great Britain WsbR
8 18 September Le Castellet, France WsbR
9 9 October Barcelona, Spain WsbR

Dunno if this has changed so bringing it forward. Interested to see how much coverage we'll be treated to over here this year, crikey! a whole nother week to go yet.

[bella]

just read the first line of chris van der drift's press release....

Chris van der Drift will drive the first two rounds of the World Series Formula Renault 3.5 for Mofaz Racing. A Malaysian sponsor offered this opportunity which the 25 year old from New Zealand couldn’t refuse.

that says all it needs to about how much he's paid the team and how much the team are paying for that drive then. good on him! you don't get that sort of a deal very often