British F3 Silly Season 2012

[strider]

Originally Posted by Deemun

It would be good to have a couple more National Class cars on the grid this year. I would love to see someone take a chance on Scott Malvern at least for the opening rounds. He has a great record at Oulton Park and is more than capable of pulling off a surprise result.

It could re-ignite his career and do a very good turn for the team that runs him.

I agree completely.

Double R probably have a vacancy. As mentioned earlier, Yuki Shiraishi's father is seriously ill in Japan and Yuki has had to return home to be with him. Family money was funding that drive, so it's not looking too hopeful in the short term.

[petergriffin]

feel for scott but sometimes just doing 1 or 2 rounds is worse than doing nothing at all. sometimes better to conserve and save up for a proper shot next year maybe not to formula path but to tin tops path or go over to the US circuit where they pay decent prize money - see StarMazda prize money handouts.

[peebee2]

12 cars today at Rockingham, with just 2 in Cls B.

RR getting new car, but Ilyas/Padayachee lineup looks uninspired

[strider]

At least it was dry at Rockingham today. Here's a report: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/98003 and the times:

Pos  Driver                Team/Car                 Time       Gap
 1.  Jack Harvey           Carlin Dallara-VW        1m17.022s
 2.  Harry Tincknell       Carlin Dallara-VW        1m17.319s  + 0.297s
 3.  Carlos Sainz Jr       Carlin Dallara-VW        1m17.322s  + 0.300s
 4.  Jazeman Jaafar        Carlin Dallara-VW        1m17.347s  + 0.325s
 5.  Pietro Fantin         Carlin Dallara-VW        1m17.423s  + 0.401s
 6.  Alex Lynn             Fortec Dallara-Merc      1m17.559s  + 0.537s
 7.  Felix Serralles       Fortec Dallara-Merc      1m18.122s  + 1.100s
 8.  Hannes van Asseldonk  Fortec Dallara-Merc      1m18.251s  + 1.229s
 9.  Pipo Derani           Fortec Dallara-Merc      1m18.341s  + 1.319s
10.  Nick McBride          T-Sport Dallara-Nissan   1m18.560s  + 1.538s
11.  Spike Goddard         T-Sport Dallara-Mugen*   1m20.084s  + 3.062s
12.  Duvashen Padayachee   Double R Dallara-Mugen*  1m21.507s  + 4.485s

*= National Class

People will moan about the Carlin 1-2-3-4-5, but in all fairness everyone is starting from scratch with new cars, so they must simply be doing a better job or have better drivers or the VW engine is better than the Merc.

The Nissan engine made its début with an airbox on the other side of the car from the rest, but Hywel Lloyd was missing. Double R were out with the improbably named Australian, Duvashen Padayachee. It was only his second time in an F3 car and first at Rockingham.

There's another day of the test tomorrow.

[CATMAN]

It's looked clearly like there is a VW advantage for some time now and Fortec are unlikely to compete with the Carlin line up.
Sainz had been out in GP 3 test on Monday so may not have helped his F3 drive.
But I hear there's another International class drive car well on it's way, so that may add a little colour to the present gloom.

[davyboy]

Carlin and Fortec affirming their commitment to BF3 - see here. Nothing surprising there really.

[EastonNeston]

It's fair to say that BF3 is looking stronger than the Euroseries.
We have four good professional team, interest from four engine manufacturers, indeed the new Nissan engine was fastest through the speed traps today.
There were 12 cars out today, and at least 3 more are expected for the first round of the series.

[Frosty11]

Hywel Lloyd is expecting to run 2--3 national class cars
T-Sport hope to run another national class driver
Double R running 2 cars this year?

[rabbit8]

Interesting results today carlin obviously very strong but t-sport driver McBride was impressive to almost split both carlin and fortec. Ending up ahead of 3 Fortec drivers in only his second day in a formula 3 car from what I've heard he has done no testing before let alone driven an F3. My pick for the championship is Harvey seems to be the most consistently quick. Sainz is fast but makes mistakes.

[strider]

Originally Posted by davyboy

Carlin and Fortec affirming their commitment to BF3 - see here. Nothing surprising there really.

There's more to it than that. It's a well-written article and in their different ways the three team principles quoted have hit the nail on the head.

It's good that Marcus Simmons is reporting on British F3 this year. He's a genuine enthusiast and knows more about the history of BF3 than anyone.

The FIA has been very feeble, but a re-think could see the European Championship becoming something worth having next season.

[bella]

the man used "devonian" in anger. i'm already a fan

hopefully he can sniff out some genuine stories other than the british f3 is dead nonsense that gets pedalled on here.

[strider]

I don't think he'll let you down, bella. He's very upbeat and positive by nature and that can only be good.

As already mentioned, today saw a very promising performance for T-Sport and the Nissan-engined car. Nick McBride was only beaten by one Fortec car, driven by Alex Lynn, who has consistently been their fastest driver.

I'm also impressed by Harry Tincknell, who is still recovering from quite a serious hand injury. He says it's fine whilst he's driving but sore afterwards.

There's a report here and these were the results:

Pos Driver                 Team/Car                  Time       Gap
 1. Harry Tincknell        Carlin Dallara-VW         1m16.810s      
 2. Jack Harvey            Carlin Dallara-VW         1m16.856s  +0.046s
 3. Carlos Sainz Jr        Carlin Dallara-VW         1m16.904s  +0.094s
 4. Jazeman Jaafar         Carlin Dallara-VW         1m16.918s  +0.108s
 5. Pietro Fantin          Carlin Dallara-VW         1m17.368s  +0.558s
 6. Alex Lynn              Fortec Dallara-Merc       1m17.613s  +0.803s
 7. Nick McBride           T-Sport Dallara-Nissan    1m17.727s  +0.917s
 8. Hannes van Asseldonk   Fortec Dallara-Merc       1m17.915s  +1.105s
 9. Felix Serralles        Fortec Dallara-Merc       1m18.107s  +1.297s
10. Pipo Derani            Fortec Dallara-Merc       1m18.442s  +1.632s
11. Spike Goddard          T-Sport Dallara-Mugen*    1m19.361s  +2.551s
12. Duvashen Padayachee    Double R  Dallara-Mugen*  1m20.423s  +3.613s

*= National Class

[EastonNeston]

It's interesting that, except for Derani, all of the 2nd year drivers are ahead of the drivers new to F3, with Alex Lynn been the quickest 'rookie'. It suggests that, among other factors, a years experience helps the driver get the most out of the new car.

Hopefully the pattern will be broken at Silverstone next week.

[Balaurderaa]

Originally Posted by EastonNeston

It's interesting that, except for Derani, all of the 2nd year drivers are ahead of the drivers new to F3, with Alex Lynn been the quickest 'rookie'. It suggests that, among other factors, a years experience helps the driver get the most out of the new car.

Hopefully the pattern will be broken at Silverstone next week.

Except Carlos Sainz

[edenrace]

Sainz is doing a very very good job, however has raced in 4 F3 Open races, 3 Euroseries races and Macau F3 and has tested more than most newcomers, so not really a Rookie.

[cleanup]

Originally Posted by edenrace

Sainz is doing a very very good job, however has raced in 4 F3 Open races, 3 Euroseries races and Macau F3 and has tested more than most newcomers, so not really a Rookie.

And is a Red Bull junior, say no more!!!

[alias99]

I would say Lynn has had similar time in the car to Sainz even though he did not compete in any major races.

[Richard B]

Double R confirms Ilyas and Padayachee
http://www.formula3.co/news/team-new...and-padayachee

[Go_For_Pole]

F2's loss, BF3's gain. Not good enough for a team of respectable ability.

[kipper]

I see that Daniel Cammish is testing a T-Sport National Class car at Silverstone today, so hopefully an additional runner there.

[strider]

Just catching up, whilst the great and the good are sorting out the future of Formula 3 for us, here's a report on Wednesday's Media Day test at Silverstone and the times:

Pos  Driver              Team/Car                             Time    
 1. Carlos Sainz Jr      Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen            1m53.193s
 2. Harry Tincknell      Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen            1m53.393s
 3. Jack Harvey          Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen            1m53.649s
 4. Alex Lynn            Fortec Motorsport Dallara-Mercedes   1m53.717s
 5. Hannes van Asseldonk Fortec Motorsport Dallara-Mercedes   1m53.841s
 6. Jazeman Jaafar       Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen            1m54.331s
 7. Pietro Fantin        Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen            1m54.581s
 8. Felix Serralles      Fortec Motorsport Dallara-Mercedes   1m54.698s
 9. Nick McBride         T-Sport Dallara-Nissan               1m54.960s
10. Pipo Derani          Fortec Motorsport Dallara-Mercedes   1m55.169s
11. Spike Goddard        T-Sport Dallara-Mugen Honda*         1m55.940s
12. Fahmi Ilyas          Double R Racing Dallara-Mercedes     1m56.947s
13. Duvashen Padayachee  Double R Racing Dallara-Mugen Honda* 1m57.446s

*= National Class

13 cars wasn't great, but better was to come the next day.

[DEADDUCK]

13 cars and only 4 teams.. How times have changed. Formula Renault canned, F2 only 8 cars signed up!

[edenrace]

When Senna won the British F3 title the average grid size was 14....things do not change just go in cycles.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by edenrace

When Senna won the British F3 title the average grid size was 14....things do not change just go in cycles.

Agreed, this point had been hammered earlier in the thread, as long as there's top drivers in a series, less than 20 cars is fine.

I think there's at least 2 or 3 really good talents this year so afaiac, no problems.

[CATMAN]

Originally Posted by edenrace

When Senna won the British F3 title the average grid size was 14....things do not change just go in cycles.

That's a little misleading
Where's the repeat cycle of two teams forming around 75% or more of the grid?
Were there not ten or more teams in Senna's 83 year?
It is the lack of teams that is the problem not the number of cars in 2012! Only a very blinkered person or someone with another agenda believes that the 4 or more more multi car team is healthy for F3.
The best thing that could happen for the health of British F3 this year is for Fortec and Carlin never to achieve the top two steps of the podium.