Maiden Victory for Das in British F3

Cameron Das has added to his impressive weekend at Rockingham with his maiden win in the 2017 BRDC British Formula Three Championship. The Carlin racer had started from seventh on the grid, in the reverse grid race of the weekend, and managed to avoid a first lap incident to claim victory this morning. However it was a race of two halves for the team with James Pull extremely unlucky to get spun around at the Deene hairpin having made an initial fast start while Enaam Ahmed was caught up behind and dropped down the field as a result. Pull retired from the race with damage to his Tatuus-Cosworth car while Ahmed recovered well to take points in eighth.

For the reverse grid race of the weekend Pull had the best starting position of the three Carlin men in fourth while Das and Ahmed lined up alongside one another in seventh and eighth respectively following their double podium yesterday. As the lights went out it was Pull who had initially got the best start. The young Brit carved his way through the cars ahead however as he went three wide in to the hairpin he was squeezed and subsequently spun around by pole sitter Jamie Chadwick. Sadly, this meant that his promising start was ruined as his race came to an end with damage.

In the melee Ahmed had lost positions and dropped right the way to the back of the field as he tried to avoid the incident around him – leaving him a lot of work to do in the coming laps. However Das was able to avoid the drama around him well and had soon made his way up to third and began pressuring Omar Ismail for the lead of the race. The move came soon after and the 17 year old American took the lead through the inside at the Deene hairpin. From then on, Das controlled the pace at the front with ease and even managed to pull a commanding gap to those behind. Untroubled, Das crossed the line and in turn took his maiden victory in the championship– and the second win for Carlin of the weekend.

Yesterday’s race winner Ahmed recovered well after his tough opening lap, the championship leader took the flag in eighth position.

Speaking of his maiden victory Das said, “Off the line I had a good start and was able to get in to a good position going in to the hairpin. I knew that if something was going to happen, it was going to be there – so I made sure to keep clean and managed to avoid the incident that James [Pull] got caught up in ahead. Soon I was up to third having fought with Ben Hingeley and knew that I had the pace for more. Then I managed to go up the inside at the Deene hairpin, take the lead of the race from Ismail and start to pull a nice gap to the field. I was also able to push to get a good lap to secure pole for this afternoon’s race too.

It feels really good to get my first win of the season – I knew that we had a strong car but I didn’t expect to get a win quite this soon in the season. I’ve managed to get in to the groove quickly and equally our preparation has been really good so I’m extremely pleased to be on the pace from the beginning of the season.”

The final race of the weekend takes place later this afternoon for which Das will line up on pole position. Ahmed will line up fourth and Pull in fifth.