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Reigning British Formula 3
International Series title-holder Hitech Racing heads to the third round of the
series at Monza next weekend (May 17/18), hoping for a return to the form that
netted it the 2007 title. After two rounds, the Buckingham-based team is
currently ninth and 11th in the standings with Briton Max Chilton and
Austrian Walter Grubmüller.
The teenagers are in only their
second season in the UK’s premier domestic single seater
racing championship, in which nearly half the current F1 grid began their
careers. A dominant campaign last year with Marko Asmer with the David Hayle-led
team helped secure the young Estonian a Sauber BMW F1 test role.
Now, the team is hoping to get
back on track with its first win of the year, but Team Principal Hayle knows
that the competition this season is tougher than ever. “We started the season in a very
positive mood, having been on the pace right from word go. Then we had the
second place for Max along with two third place grid positions and fifth place
finish for Walter at Oulton Park.
“But at Croft we struggled a
little bit and were unable to repeat that performance. In standard format the
2008 car is not very different because it’s just an evolution of the old
one. However there are various options
on the car which are quite complicated to get working together.
“Now, my hope for
Monza is that we can reassert ourselves
back into the top six, or even top three. In terms of the opposition out there,
looking at the first two races you’d have to say that really any one of ten or
12 people could win.
“You can have a driver win race
one who is then way down the order in race two and then not feature at all at
the next round. And then there are other
drivers who you wouldn’t expect to be up there at the front who disappear again,
it really could be anyone’s races next weekend.”
The famous Monza Grand Prix
circuit is unique and often favours the brave drivers who can brake later than
their rivals. Last season, Asmer and his main rival Maro Engel kept the
spectators and TV viewers on the edge of their seats as they ran side-by-side
along the fast main straight.
“Monza has extremely long straights and
high speeds into slow corners which give heavy braking points and options for
overtaking, mixed with conventional corners that you get on any other circuit.
As with the other overseas events,
racing away from home is an exciting prospect for the team and drivers and quite
often the results can spring the few surprises.”
The event gets underway with two
30-minute free practice sessions on Friday prior to first qualifying at 17.05
that afternoon. Second qualifying takes place on Saturday at 11.40 with the
first of two races at 16.25. The second
race will take place at 15.45 on Sunday.
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