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This
weekend the Open Formula 3 Winter Series took place at the circuit
of Albacete and Racing Engineering participated with its three drivers
Borja Garcia (ESP), Maria de Villota (ESP) and Emmanuel Piget (FRA).
The first race, won by Rosberg, who was competing with a Euro F3
car, which is more powerful than the Spanish Formula 3 Toyota cars,
saw Borja Garcia in an excellent second place. His teammate Emmanuel
Piget finished fifth, Maria de Villota in seventh position. In the
second race that was held under wet conditions, Borja Garcia again
went on the podium as second whereas Emmanuel Piget and Maria de
Villota did not finish.
Race
1:
Borja Garcia, the young Spaniard, went into the race from third
position as he lost precious time in the 20 minute qualifying session
in the morning when he had to come into the pits to change a punctured
tyre. Borja’s goal for this weekend was to finish the race
right behind Rosberg and therefore he kept pushing throughout the
race. In lap fourteen, Borja overtook Alvaro Barba. He finished
the race in second place and crossed the finish line before any
other Spanish F3 car.
Emmanuel Piget, the Frenchman, who didn’t drive a Formula 3
car before and didn’t know the Albacete track, impressed everyone
with his great start into the race from position eight. He overtook
three cars and finished lap one already fifth, the position he kept
throughout the entire race. Racing Engineering is very happy about
the debut of this young talent.
Maria de Villota, who’s very clear goal for this weekend was
less the results on the timesheets than the work done together with
the team, went into the first race from ninth position and kept
this place at the start. In lap six Maria overtook Villa and gained
position eight. Maria, who showed a solid performance, moved up
another position two laps before the end when Marco Barba spun in
front of her. Maria finished the race seventh.
Race
2:
Shortly before the race heavy sleet started and therefore the race
was declared a wet race. Borja Garcia, going into the race second
and knowing about his qualities in the wet, was already looking
forward to another good performance in direct competition with the
two Formula 3 Euroseries drivers starting from first and third position.
Borja immediately overtook Rosberg, who had a problem at the start,
and took over first position. Borja could defend the lead until
lap 5, when Rosberg, driving a more powerful car, overtook him.
He impressed everyone by keeping the gap to Rosberg minimal and
even marking the fastest lap time in the race in lap fifteen. Zuber,
the other driver in a F3 Euroseries car finishing in third position,
was more than 40 seconds behind Racing Engineering’s Borja
Garcia, who repeated his amazing result from race 1 and finished
second.
Emmanuel Piget started into the race from fifth position and gained
one place at the start. He ran in fourth position until Barba overtook
him in lap 7. Emmanuel went off the track and got stuck in the gravel
in lap 11 and therefore could not underline his talent with a result
as good as in race 1.
Maria de Villota was sixth on the starting grid and went off the
track in the first lap. With her car stuck in the gravel she could
not continue the race.
After the Sunday qualifying sessions and races Maria de Villota
stated, “In the first race I had a driver in front of me who
made me slow down. Like this the group of drivers running in fifth
and sixth position could increase the gap. I could then reduce the
gap, but there were not enough laps left to improve the results.
In the second race I went off, but I am already looking forward
to the tests we will have during the next weeks.”
Emmanuel
Piget after his first outing in a Formula 3 car said, “For
me this was the first time I drove on this on this track and with
a Formula 3 car. It is very different from a Formula Renault car,
so had to learn while racing. This is a really, really good car,
it is a real race car! I am content with the result of the first
race. In the second race I pushed too much and touched the grass
beside the track with the tyres and went off.”
Borja
Garcia after a successful weekend announced, “In both races
I had a very good start and in race one I stayed behind Barba in
third position. But with each lap my car went better and faster.
I overtook Barba and kept second position until the end. I am very
happy with my mechanics. They did a great job on Saturday when they
had to change the engine of my car and worked all night. I am also
very happy with my engineer, who supplied me with a great car. Sadly
during the qualifying sessions as the engine was new, it did not
yet perform at its best. In race two I also had a very good start
and was first. I immediately pushed very hard and tried to get away
from my competitors. Rosberg was the only one who could follow me
and passed me in lap five at the end of the straight. I was always
close behind him and actually marked the fastest time in the race
in lap fifteen. I am very happy about these two second places as
I met my goal being the fastest of all Spanish Formula 3 drivers.
I was very close to Rosberg, and I was ahead of his teammate Zuber
– and they are both running a newer and more powerful car.”
Alfonso
de Orleans, president, stated, “I’m amazed by Borja’s
talent! I knew he was good, but not this good. The team did an excellent
job. Also Maria and Emmanuel did quite well, sadly the rain caught
them off guard. I really like Maria’s driving style.”
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