2007 British F3 International Series silly season

[climb]

I cannot open the pdf file containing results, can anyone?

thanx!

[strider]

The pdf link still works for me, but you could try going here and then opening it separately.

[Redracer77]

Originally Posted by strider

Ben Clucas was confirmed yesterday for some reason, but it's still excellent news.

Rotor Racing is a Scottish team, new to F3, and the driver linked with them is Neil Tofts.

In Club F3 maybe......not British F3. I can't see Neil wanting to race in National Class F3 for say £200k when he is used to running his own car at FF level.....

[JohnMiller]

I reckon Tofty can do a good job for them.

[strider]

I'm sure Tofts would do a good job, but he may have left it all too late. He had a pretty good deal on the table from Rotor Racing, but it seems he has a problem taking time off to test. There's a two-day test at Croft next week (weather permitting), but he's not going to be there. BF3 is too serious just to turn up and race. Most of the guys have been out out there testing for a month now.

All being well, Christiano Morgado will be out at Croft with Fluid in a Championship Class Lola. There's some doubt about Maro Engel's car being ready, though.

[strider]

This week's two day test is underway at Croft, despite bitterly cold weather and the occasional snow shower.

There don't seem to be any times on the MST site yet, but Marko Asmer led the way in the morning sessions, followed by Greg Mansell and Rodolfo Gonzalez. Cong Fu Cheng set the pace in the National Class on only his second outing, with mentor John Booth lending support. Mike Meadows and Sergio Perez were next up.

By way of a change, Fabio Carbone was in the other Mygale, alongside Ben Clucas.

[climb]

Originally Posted by strider

...
By way of a change, Fabio Carbone was in the other Mygale, alongside Ben Clucas.

Interesting news strider
Flavio's an experienced driver, but changing test driver every session won't help that much cumulate useful data, I fear...

[lovebritF3]

Originally Posted by strider

There don't seem to be any times on the MST site yet, but Marko Asmer led the way in the morning sessions, followed by Greg Mansell and Rodolfo Gonzalez.

nice to see a honda on the pace if this is true

[strider]

It is true and Rodolfo was 2nd at the Media Day test as well, so I think it's a bit early to write off the Hondas, as some have done.

There are some times on the MST site now.

Ultimate seem to be struggling to get Carbone's car working properly, which is a shame as he's come all the way from Japan for this.

The weather forecast for tomorrow is better.

[lovebritF3]

seems to be quite a few missing, one of is kennard and a few N class cars. also some struggling, ADR both cars and jelley. but just looking at it again ther is massive differences in the times, is that to do with the weather?

[Alex K]

It won't get better strider, it's snowing, it's freezing... Geez, it's almost April!

[strider]

Originally Posted by lovebritF3

seems to be quite a few missing, one of is kennard and a few N class cars. also some struggling, ADR both cars and jelley. but just looking at it again there is massive differences in the times, is that to do with the weather?

Kennard was poorly today, but should be out tomorrow. The ADR cars were there - Martin 8th and Castellaci 20th this afternoon. Viktor Jensen should join them tomorrow.

Stephen Jelley was out this morning briefly - 8 laps in the course of which he managed to shunt twice, once gently and then rather harder, which is why he didn't run in the afternoon. dave not neil may be relieved to hear this!

Performance's driver from Bahrain was absent, but not Salman Al Qualifa. I can only guess that his transponder wasn't working, so no times. Ditto for Albert Costa.

The weather definitely played a part. There was a snow shower at the start of the last session, for instance, but the times at the sharp end are on the money. It was really a question of being on track at the right time.

And the forecast for tomorrow is still looking good, Alex K!

[Lightning Bug]

Originally Posted by strider

It is true and Rodolfo was 2nd at the Media Day test as well, so I think it's a bit early to write off the Hondas, as some have done.

Good call Strider. There's nothing wrong with the Mugens, it's just that sponsors/rich dads want the Mercedes because that's what's fashionable. That's probably why Carlin swapped this year.
Merc will probably dominate this year because they have the top teams and best drivers, and that will make the perception that the Mugen is inferior even more prevalent.
What it does do though is it gives all the 'middling' talents using Mugen engines a great excuse for not doing well, just as you used to get when people used Opel engines against the Mugens.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Lightning Bug

What it does do though is it gives all the 'middling' talents using Mugen engines a great excuse for not doing well, just as you used to get when people used Opel engines against the Mugens.

Or Alfa's against the Spiess VW

Or Toyota Novamotors against the VW 'Brabhams'

[JohnMiller]

Or anything vs the Saabs.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by JohnMiller

Or anything vs the Saabs.

[strider]

Since we're on a bit of a nostalgia trip here, what about the Triumph Dolomite Sprint engines that the Unipart sponsored cars used?

It's a lovely, sunny day at Croft, although still quite cold out of the sun. Last time I looked Sam Bird was leading the way from Seb Hohenthal.

30 cars on track for the first time, too!

[Fan]

Any sign of Morgado?

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by strider

Since we're on a bit of a nostalgia trip here, what about the Triumph Dolomite Sprint engines that the Unipart sponsored cars used?

Sort of equivalent to the Sodemo or HKS engines in their day I would have thought?

[strider]

Originally Posted by Fan

Any sign of Morgado?

Not here, but may be out at Pembrey later in the week, and, hopefully, Oulton Park next week.

[bella]

Originally Posted by strider

30 cars on track for the first time, too!

bf3 1 euroseries 0

[Lightning Bug]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Or Alfa's against the Spiess VW

Or Toyota Novamotors against the VW 'Brabhams'

Anyone remember that Peugeot engine? Was it Pedro de Faria who raced it?

[Lightning Bug]

Times now in from Croft. For what it's worth, this is the combined list from the 4 sessions over 2 days.

Stephen Jelley (Double R) 1:12.858
Marko Asmer (Hitech) 1:12.877
Sebastian Hohenthal (Fortec) 1:12.989
Jonathan Kennard (Double R) 1:13.006
Greg Mansell (Fortec) 1:13.263
Sam Bird (Carlin) 1:13.316
Niall Breen (Carlin) 1:13.497
Atte Mustonen (Double R) 1:13.592
Ricardo Teixeira (Performance) 1:13.676
Walter Grubmuller (Hitech) 1:13.754
Alberto Valerio (Carlin) 1:13.864
Rodolfo Gonzalez (T-Sport) 1:!3.901
Max Chilton (Arena) 1:14.306
Leo Mansell (Fortec) 1:14.366
Mario Moraes (Carlin) 1:14.556
John Martin (Docking) 1:14.570
Rodolfo Avila (Performance) 1:14.707
N - Franky Cheng (Performance) 1:14.769
Ben Clucas (Ultimate) 1:14.806
N - Sergio Perez (T-Sport) 1:14.839
N - Ali Jackson (Double R) 1:14.866
Francesco Castellacci (Docking) 1:14.914
N - Michael Meadows (Master) 1:15.078
N - Viktor Jensen (Docking) 1:15.514
Fabio Carbone (Ultimate) 1:15.596
N - Albert Costa (Double R) 1:15.598
N - Sean Petterson (Fluid) 1:15.775
N - Juan Pablo Garcia (Fluid) 1:16.410
N - Alex Waters (Promatecme) 1:16.479

[Sausage]

Why are there no results for al Fardan? Was he running?

[Last2LiftOff]

Unitl today, I had no idea Frankie Cheng was signed-on to run in the National class, surprised me a bit but then, boom, he's at the front. In 3 of the 4 sessions anyway. Nice to see him back in the saddle as it were.