British Formula 3 lights up Snetterton at 2017 Media Day
The 2017 BRDC British Formula 3 season moved a step closer as the teams and drivers competing in this year’s series came together for the annual joint British GT/F3 Media Day (28 March) at Snetterton. There was plenty of action both on and off the track, with a press conference, on track running and a number of driver announcements taking place throughout the course of the day as the excitement ahead of the first round of the UK’s premier single-seater championship was raised another notch.
With the media beginning to assemble and fans taking advantage of free entry to the Norfolk circuit, Hillspeed with Cliff Dempsey Racing announced the completion of its three-car, capacity British F3 line-up with German teenager Nick Worm joining the team. That marks a strong return to the category for the Hathersage-based outfit, with Worm now lining up alongside American Chase Owen and Brit Jordan Cane at the team.
There was yet more exciting driver news before the Tatuus-Cosworth cars hit the 300 circuit too with five-time British F3 race winner Toby Sowery announcing his return to the championship with Lanan Racing. Sowery becomes the highest placed driver from 2016, as he finished third overall, to return to BRDC British Formula 3 and he will immediately be amongst the favourites to claim this year’s crown.
After early morning fog had lifted, the cars took to the track for a brief half-hour session, which was subsequently topped by the Carlin car of James Pull. Following that, the championship tracking shots took place and during the lunch break, a joint press conference was held with Giles Butterfield, MSV’s Group Head of Operations and Benjamin Franassovici, British GT Championship Manager, taking to the stage. British F3 drivers Cameron Das and Jamie Chadwick also spoke to the media as the upcoming season was previewed.
The afternoon brought more on track running for the assembled teams, with Toby Sowery and Ben Hingeley amongst the fastest drivers, as fans were able to get up close and personal with the cars as they were prepared for action in the paddock.
The 2017 BRDC British Formula 3 season kicks off in just over two week’s time at Oulton Park on Easter Weekend (April 15-17).
Test Session 1 – Classification
1st – No. 15, James Pull, Carlin, 1:45.336
2nd – No. 77, Ben Hingeley, Fortec Motorsports, 1:45.385
3rd – No. 65, Enaam Ahmed, Carlin, 1:45.646
4th – No. 86, Jordan Cane, Hillspeed, 1:45.830
5th – No. 28, Cameron Das, Carlin, 1:45.971
6th – No. 27, Callan O’Keefe, Douglas Motorsport, 1:46.051
7th – No. 55, Jamie Chadwick, Double R Racing, 1:46.293
8th – No. 21, Chase Owen, Hillspeed, 1:46.496
9th – No. 51, Toby Sowery, Lanan Racing, 1:46.500
10th – No. 13, Aaron di Comberti, Lanan Racing, 1:46.617
11th – No. 10, Petru Florescu, Douglas Motorsport, 1:47.240
12th – No. 26, Harry Hayek, Double R Racing, 1:47.340
13th – No. 33, Manuel Maldonado, Fortec Motorsports, 1:49.573
14th – No. 7, Guilherme Samaia, Double R Racing, 1:49.949
15th – No. 8, Jeremy Wahome, Chris Dittmann Racing, 1:52.808
Test Session 2 – Classification
1st – No. 51, Toby Sowery, Lanan Racing, 1:43.945
2nd – No. 77, Ben Hingeley, Fortec Motorsports, 1:44.102
3rd – No. 65, Enaam Ahmed, Carlin, 1:44.219
4th – No. 86, Jordan Cane, Hillspeed, 1:44.773
5th – No. 15, James Pull, Carlin, 1:44.807
6th – No. 27, Callan O’Keefe, Douglas Motorsport, 1:44.923
7th – No. 21, Chase Owen, Hillspeed, 1:44.941
8th – No. 13, Aaron di Comberti, Lanan Racing, 1:45.025
9th – No. 28, Cameron Das, Carlin, 1:45.060
10th – No. 8, Jeremy Wahome, Chris Dittmann Racing, 1:45.632
11th – No. 55, Jamie Chadwick, Double R Racing, 1:45.848
12th – No. 33, Manuel Maldonado, Fortec Motorsports, 1:45.896
13th – No. 10, Petru Florescu, Douglas Motorsport, 1:46.003
14th – No. 26, Harry Hayek, Double R Racing, 1:46.097
15th – No. 7, Guilherme Samaia, Double R Racing, 1:46.464
16th – No. 25, Nick Worm, Hillspeed, 1:48.335
Test Session 3 – Classification
1st – No. 77, Ben Hingeley, Fortec Motorsports, 1:43.596
2nd – No. 65, Enaam Ahmed, Carlin, 1:44.233
3rd – No. 51, Toby Sowery, Lanan Racing, 1:44.238
4th – No. 15, James Pull, Carlin, 1:44.429
5th – No. 86, Jordan Cane, Hillspeed, 1:44.483
6th – No. 55, Jamie Chadwick, Double R Racing, 1:44.497
7th – No. 28, Cameron Das, Carlin, 1:44.506
8th – No. 26, Harry Hayek, Double R Racing, 1:44.638
9th – No. 10, Petru Florescu, Douglas Motorsport, 1:44.878
10th – No. 13, Aaron di Comberti, Lanan Racing, 1:45.078
11th – No. 33, Manuel Maldonado, Fortec Motorsports, 1:45.145
12th – No. 21, Chase Owen, Hillspeed, 1:45.216
13th – No. 8, Jeremy Wahome, Chris Dittmann Racing, 1:45.421
14th – No. 27, Callan O’Keefe, Douglas Motorsport, 1:45.705
15th – No. 7, Guilherme Samaia, Double R Racing, 1:45.913
16th – No. 25, Nick Worm, Hillspeed, 1:47.682
Test Session 4 – Classification
1st – No. 51, Toby Sowery, Lanan Racing, 1:43.479
2nd – No. 77, Ben Hingeley, Fortec Motorsports, 1:43.512
3rd – No. 28, Cameron Das, Carlin, 1:43.558
4th – No. 15, James Pull, Carlin, 1:43.663
5th – No. 26, Harry Hayek, Double R Racing, 1:44.047
6th – No. 86, Jordan Cane, Hillspeed, 1:44.049
7th – No. 65, Enaam Ahmed, Carlin, 1:44.200
8th – No. 55, Jamie Chadwick, Double R Racing, 1:44.222
9th – No. 21, Chase Owen, Hillspeed, 1:44.474
10th – No. 33, Manuel Maldonado, Fortec Motorsports, 1:44.513
11th – No. 13, Aaron di Comberti, Lanan Racing, 1:44.680
12th – No. 7, Guilherme Samaia, Double R Racing, 1:44.740
13th – No. 8, Jeremy Wahome, Chris Dittmann Racing, 1:45.862
14th – No. 25, Nick Worm, Hillspeed, 1:49.087
No Time Set
No. 27, Callan O’Keefe, Douglas Motorsport
Test Session – Combined Classification
1st – No. 51, Toby Sowery, Lanan Racing, 1:43.479
2nd – No. 77, Ben Hingeley, Fortec Motorsports, 1:43.512
3rd – No. 28, Cameron Das, Carlin, 1:43.558
4th – No. 15, James Pull, Carlin, 1:43.663
5th – No. 26, Harry Hayek, Double R Racing, 1:44.047
6th – No. 86, Jordan Cane, Hillspeed, 1:44.049
7th – No. 65, Enaam Ahmed, Carlin, 1:44.200
8th – No. 55, Jamie Chadwick, Double R Racing, 1:44.222
9th – No. 21, Chase Owen, Hillspeed, 1:44.474
10th – No. 33, Manuel Maldonado, Fortec Motorsports, 1:44.513
11th – No. 13, Aaron di Comberti, Lanan Racing, 1:44.680
12th – No. 7, Guilherme Samaia, Double R Racing, 1:44.740
13th – No. 10, Petru Florescu, Douglas Motorsport, 1:44.878
14th – No. 27, Callan O’Keefe, Douglas Motorsport, 1:44.923
15th – No. 8, Jeremy Wahome, Chris Dittmann Racing, 1:45.862
16th – No. 25, Nick Worm, Hillspeed, 1:49.087
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