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Less than a tenth of a second
denied Austrian Walter Grubmüller his first podium finish when he stormed to
fourth place in round five of the British Formula 3 International Series at
Monza today. The 19 year-old Hitech Racing driver made a
fantastic getaway to make up nine places on the opening
lap.
Over the course of the 30-minute
race, the rapid teenager capitalised on the mistakes of his rivals and made best
use of the track to claw his way through the field. “It was pure chaos out
there, said Walter. “I made an excellent start and made up a couple of
places. Then there was a first corner
pile-up which I managed to avoid and was able to pick my way through and get up
to eighth.
“It wasn’t that pleasant but I
managed to avoid it and it was good to be that high up after qualifying where we
did. I should have qualified higher up as a podium would have been within
reach. On that last lap I could have had
Turvey, although he drove quite defensive and it was very wet so it wasn’t worth
trying. For tomorrow’s race, if it stays like this it should help, we’re
obviously quick in the dry. You don’t get that lucky twice though to get such a
good start and have a big pile-up like that.
But I’ll give it my best shot.”
His team-mate Max Chilton started
from the front row but was denied the chance of his first race victory when he
was shunted off on the opening lap and subsequently pitted with damage to his
Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA. “I didn’t get a bad start but going into the first
corner Chinosi and Abay were side-by-side. We were all crawling through it and I
was on the apex going in when suddenly someone rammed the back of me and spun me
round. I was stuck on the track without
the engine running trying to get it going.
I had just started it when Bridger hit me and took off the front right
corner of the car.
“I’m on pole for tomorrow’s race
though and I’ll be hoping nothing bad happens then. I’m hoping it will be really
wet as I’m good at starting in the rain and I always find the races
easier.”
For Team Principal David Hayle,
the results of the fifth round of the series produced mixed emotions; “I have to
say I’m over the moon with Walter’s performance. He often races better than he
qualifies and drove an absolutely superb race today. He made a great start and drove with his
head, not putting a wheel wrong throughout the race. We’re all very happy for him and it bodes
well for hopefully another good result tomorrow.
“For Max, it’s a huge shame as
starting from the front row he had such a good chance to take his first
win. Unfortunately these things happen
sometimes and you can’t afford to dwell on it too much, we just have to put it
all behind us and look ahead to tomorrow’s race, where he starts from pole. He starts as the youngest ever pole-sitter
and hopefully he can make a better start and record his first ever
win.”
Seventeen year-old Chilton went
into the history books as the youngest ever driver in British F3 aged 16 years
and one day. Tomorrow he takes the
record as the youngest ever pole-sitter in the series, aged just 17 years and 26
days.
Walter will line up on the ninth
row; the Buckingham-domiciled driver unable to re-capture the form that netted
him fifth in Friday’s opening free practice. On a wet track, his second fastest
lap in the session secured him the 18th quickest time for the race
which is scheduled to start at 15.45 tomorrow.
Results of Round
5
1. Sergio Perez T-Sport Dallara
F308 Mugen-Honda 31:17.244
2. Brendon Hartley Carlin
Motorsport Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA 31:21.482
3. Oliver Turvey Carlin Motorsport
Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA 31:23.464
4. Walter Grubmüller Hitech Racing
Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA 31:23.563
5. John Martin Raikkonen Robertson
Racing Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA 31:23.698
6. Sam Abay Carlin Motorsport
Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA 31:24.671
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