Collard takes maiden win as Carlin secure third double podium

Carlin’s Ricky Collard has taken his maiden win the BRDC British Formula Three championship after a lightning start to the third race of the weekend at Rockingham. As the lights extinguished Collard launched incredibly well from third on the grid to storm in to the lead of the race. Team mate Lando Norris was on the podium for the third time this weekend ensuring that each podium saw two Carlin drivers on the steps. However it was disappointment for Ameya Vaidyanathan who was forced to retire in the opening stages after starting in a strong fourth position.

The third and final race of the weekend had been determined as ever by the fastest laps of the drivers in the previous two races. This had led Norris to start from pole, Collard in third and Vaidyanathan in fourth. However as the lights went out it was Collard who got the best start by far and as the cars made their way around the banking he had already clinched the lead of the race. Meanwhile Norris, who had a slightly slower getaway, was running in third while Vaidyanathan had been looking good but was forced in to the pit lane with an issue; the Indian racer retired from the race while the safety car was on track for a separate issue.

Over the next few racing laps the action remained very stable for the three at the front with Collard controlling the race well as he looked to take his maiden win in the championship. The positions remained identical with the gaps consistent between Collard in the lead, Matheus Leist in second and Norris in third.

After 15 laps of racing around the Rockingham Motor Speedway it was Collard who came out nicely on top taking his first victory in the series adding further points to his Championship lead. Joining him on the podium was Norris meaning that Carlin have had two drivers on the podium for each of the three races this weekend and left with an impressive haul of points.

“It’s been a pretty surreal weekend,” said Collard, “I was announced as a BMW Motorsport junior earlier in the week, took the lead of the championship yesterday and got my maiden race win today. I feel really humble, grateful to the team and to my engineer. I’m enjoying the season and learning so much which is definitely paying off in the racing. It felt amazing to cross the line knowing that we’d taken the win today.”

Norris, who was the top scorer this weekend said “I didn’t get a great start at all which left me open for Ricky to get the lead of the race and I hoped over the first few laps to be able to get the position back. I was on older tyres and although my pace was good enough to keep up with the leaders I couldn’t really do much about getting any higher up the field. I think that third was the best I could manage today so I’m really pleased to get another podium.”