Young British racers shine at Pirelli-supplied Macau Grand PrixSome of Britain’s quickest young drivers impressed at the famous Macau Grand Prix last weekend, when the FIA Formula 3 World Cup was exclusively supplied by Pirelli for the first time.
Eighteen-year-olds George Russell and Callum Ilott in particular were in contention for victory during the weekend, having locked out the front row of the grid in qualifying. Ilott took the lead on the first lap of the qualification race, and finished it second behind the experienced Antonio Felix da Costa. Russell led through the first corner, but was shuffled back to fifth down Macau’s long straights.
Ilott then made a great start to the main race to lead, but lost out in a three-way tussle under braking and finished up fifth, as Felix da Costa took victory ahead of fellow two-time winner Felix Rosenqvist.
Carlin duo Jake Hughes and Lando Norris also impressed, in what was only their second FIA F3 events after winning in the Pirelli-supplied GP3 and BRDC British F3 respectively. Hughes came from 10th to beat Russell to sixth overall and the honours of top Macau rookie. The highly-rated Norris, 17, was among the leaders early in the weekend, and after crashing at the start of the Saturday race, he carved his way back to 11th place on Sunday, just behind the experienced Alexander Sims.
Mercedes added to Pirelli-equipped British GT gridThe Mercedes-AMG GT3 will appear full-time in the British GT Championship for the first time next season.
Team ABBA with Rollcentre Racing has swapped the BMW Z4 GT3 it campaigned in 2016 for a brand new Mercedes, a model which won the Pirelli-equipped Blancpain GT Series in its first season this year. Two such cars run by Black Falcon also placed third and fourth in a one-off British GT appearance at Spa-Francorchamps.
The team will again field Richard Neary and Martin Short as drivers. “Maybe there’s a perception that, as an Am/Am pairing, we’re content to make up the numbers, but that’s not the case at all,” said Short. “I think the Z4 masked our potential last season; for whatever reason we just weren’t comfortable with it.
“Investing in a new-generation GT3 car shows our commitment but also the belief that, in the right circumstances, we can spring a surprise or two. Richard is a very good Am - one of the best in fact - and exceptional in the wet, and I gained a lot of confidence from testing the Mercedes in Germany. We know we’re better than last season’s results suggest and are really up for it. We don’t expect to be winning races but want to do well and will be disappointed if we don’t.”.
Bernstorff handed debut in Pirelli-backed GP2GP3 Series race-winner Emil Bernstorff will get the opportunity to step up to GP2 this weekend in Abu Dhabi.
Bernstorff won at Spa and Monza on his way to fourth in the GP3 standings last year, and tested with his Arden International team in GP2 at the end of the season. The same squad has now given him the opportunity to race in the final round this weekend.
“First of all I would like to thank Arden for this opportunity,” he said. “It will be a steep learning curve but I'm really looking forward to the challenge and to working with the team again.”
The Pirelli-supported GP2 Series and GP3 Series hold championship deciders in Abu Dhabi this weekend alongside the final Formula 1 round.
Anglo-Thai driver Alex Albon is one of three title contenders in GP3, having won four times in his rookie season. He does however have a 29-point deficit to his ART Grand Prix team-mate and Ferrari academy racer Charles Leclerc. British racers Jake Dennis, Jack Aitken, Matt Parry and Jake Hughes will be out to end the year on a high, having all won races this season.
The GP2 title is likely to be fought between Italy’s Antonio Giovinazzi and Frenchman Pierre Gasly, but Brits Jordan King, Oliver Rowland and Alex Lynn will all be out to improve their championship positions.
Haslam signs Kawasaki deal to remain in Pirelli-supplied British SuperbikesLeon Haslam will continue in the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship next season after signing with Kawasaki.
Haslam raced one of the manufacturer’s bikes upon his return to the Pirelli-supplied category this year and battled Shane Byrne for the title until the final round. With his former team not continuing, Kawasaki UK signed Haslam up and has placed him with the Bournemouth Kawasaki squad for 2017 alongside Luke Mossey.
“I had some interesting options in the World Championship but I know with this package we are going to be battling for wins and a championship title,” said Haslam. “I believe in Kawasaki and I think this second year working together will certainly put us in a stronger position than when we started out this season. I am looking forward to taking steps forward again in 2017 and with the understanding and knowledge that we have now I am really excited to get started.”
