Joel Eriksson travels to France for career-first street race

Following a strong start to his rookie FIA F3 European Championship campaign, Joel Eriksson currently holds third in the overall standings after the opening two rounds of the season. This weekend, however, the young Team Motopark man faces arguably his greatest challenge yet as he prepares for his first-ever visit to a street circuit – and one of the toughest ones around, at that.

At only 17 years of age, Joel Eriksson is not allowed to drive a road car on the streets of his native Sweden. Still, round three of the 2016 season will see him race through the heart of a city at speeds approaching 250 km/h, as the tradition-steeped Grand Prix de Pau enters the limelight for what is guaranteed to be a weekend packed with excitement.

Staged for the first time in 1933, the French event is one of the true classics on the current F3 calendar – and Eriksson is looking forward to his maiden street circuit experience.

“Pau will be a real challenge, and one of the highlights of the season,” says Joel Eriksson. “This is not a race like any other, and I know I will have to tackle it differently. It will be crucial to get as many laps as possible in free practice, especially with this being my first time on a street circuit of any kind. Normally, a small mistake will have you lose some time – in Pau, you’ll be in the barriers. I think it will be all about slowly building the pace and confidence, and making sure to stay out of trouble.”

Laid out on normal roads in the city centre, the 2.760 km Pau circuit – beautifully set at the foot of the Pyrenees – is one of the greatest driving challenges of the year. As per the normal FIA F3 European Championship agenda, three races are set to be run again this weekend, but qualifying will see the field split in groups to combat traffic issues and potential incidents within the narrow confines.

Scoring two outright podiums last time out at the Hungaroring, and one at the preceding season-opener at Circuit Paul Ricard, Eriksson has enjoyed a strong start to his first F3 campaign. Much like Pau, the opening two venues were also brand new acquaintances for the 2015 ADAC F4 runner-up, who currently sits just 12 points adrift of overall championship leader Maximilian Günther with six races completed.

“Things have gone very well so far, but we have another set of races this weekend and I’m fully focussed on that,” Eriksson concludes. “The majority of the others have been to Pau before, either in F3, Formula Renault or both, so we’ll simply have to see where we are come qualifying. The other two circuits we’ve been to were also new to me, and at least I learned them pretty quickly. I know Pau will be an even greater challenge, but also a very useful experience for the future.”

Along with his regular rivals, Eriksson will face added opposition from unexpected quarters this weekend, as ex-Formula 1 driver Nelson Piquet Jr. joins the field in a car entered by Carlin. The 30-year-old Brazilian – the son of triple F1 world champion Nelson Piquet – claimed the 2004 British F3 title before progressing into Formula 1 via GP2 (where Joel Eriksson’s older brother Jimmy will make his race debut in Barcelona this weekend), and is the reigning Formula E champion.

Joel Eriksson continues to lead the FIA F3 European Championship rookie classification, albeit just one point ahead of Ferrari protégé Guan Yu Zhou.

 

TIME TABLE (all times local – GMT+02:00)

FRIDAY 13/5

Free Practice 1: 09.50-10.35

Free Practice 2: 10.45-11.30

Qualifying 1: 14.25-15.10

Qualifying 2: 17.35-18.20

 

SATURDAY 14/5

Race 1: 11.15 (33 min. + one lap)

Race 2: 15.50 (33 min. + one lap)

 

SUNDAY 15/5

Race 3: 15.15 (33 min. + one lap)