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Max Chilton gave Hitech Racing
it’s second fourth place finish of the weekend in the sixth round of the British
Formula 3 International Series at Monza on Sunday. The 17 year-old made a superb start from his
record-breaking pole position to take the lead into the first
corner.
For nine laps the BRDC Superstar
gradually extended his advantage over the chasing pack on a track made greasy by
light rain. The Reigate teenager was looking good to take
a record-breaking victory as the youngest ever winner of a British F3
race.
Meanwhile his team-mate Walter
Grubmüller, who took fourth place in round five, also looked likely to produce
another strong result in the sixth round.
After a storming start again enabled him to make up several places, the
young Austrian was tagged by another car on the opening lap and pitched into a
spin dropping him back to 19th.
A first corner accident which had
previously eliminated six cars brought out the safety car and at the restart
Walter again made good progress through the field.
A superb recovery allowed him to
claw his way back up and he was soon battling with front-row starter Matteo
Chinosi and Croft race winner Brendon Hartley.
As Max extended his lead at the
front to over a second and half, Walter’s race ended abruptly when he collided
with Hartley on lap nine, forcing them both out on the
spot.
As the track dried, Max saw his
healthy advantage rapidly reduced and he was gradually reeled in and passed by
eventual winner Sergio Perez, who takes his second race win in succession,
Esteban Guerrieri and Atte Mustonen.
David Hayle; “The day didn’t
produce the results we had hoped for unfortunately. After qualifying on pole with Max, we had
high hopes of his first victory and when the conditions were slippery it suited
him and the car very well. But as the
track dried, it allowed everyone to close up and they were able to slipstream
past on the straights.
“Walter’s retirement in the race
was very disappointing after his superb performance in Saturday’s race. He showed a lot of pace and again today was
looking good for at least seventh place if not higher. Still we must put all that behind us and look
forward to Rockingham next weekend.”
Walter Grubmüller: “It was a very
disappointing end to the weekend. After
a great race yesterday and another good start in today’s race, I felt able to
get another strong finish. I made up
several places at the start but then got spun out on the first lap and had to do
it all again. Then I was having a battle
with Chinosi when Hartley and I collided.
There didn’t seem to be any visible damage but I just couldn’t restart
it.”
Max Chilton: “I had an awesome
getaway and was able to pull out quite an advantage early on while the others
were all fighting behind. I was gutted
though to see the safety car come out as I’d already built up a good lead. I’m
fairly certain that without that I could have held on to the
advantage.”
Results of Round
6
1. Sergio Perez T-Sport Dallara
F308 Mugen-Honda 26:22.072
2. Esteban Guerrieri Ultimate
Motorsport Mygale M-08F3 Mercedes HWA 26:22.755
3. Atte Mustonen Raikkonen
Robertson Racing Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA 26:24.484
4. Max Chilton Hitech Racing
Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA 26:25.075
5. Nick Tandy JTR Marshall
Westland Mygale M-08F3 Mercedes HWA 26:25.135
6. Jaime Alguersuari Carlin
Motorsport Dallara F308 Mercedes 26:26.445
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