Strong qualifying and Sprint points before tough Feature Race
Round 5 - Silverstone - Report
Fionn McLaughlin delivered a season-best qualifying performance at Silverstone, scoring Sprint Race points before a more challenging Feature Race, while Jin Nakamura led the team home on Sunday.
The event marked the second half of the back-to-back with Spielberg as the championship arrived at the team’s home round, located just a stone’s throw from Hitech’s HQ.
Qualifying
Fionn McLaughlin qualified a season best P7, with Jin Nakamura P15 and Michael Shin P27. Shin received a three-place grid penalty after qualifying for a pit lane infringement, dropping him to P30 for both races.
Sprint Race
Fionn started P7 and ran in the midfield battle through the opening stages of the 18-lap race. He moved up to P8 after passing Giusti on lap 11 and reclaimed P7 on lap 13 after going around the outside of Wharton.
In the closing stages he was shuffled back in a midfield fight and finished P9 to take his first two FIA Formula 3 points.
Jin crossed the line in P13, while Michael finished P27 after gaining positions from the back of the grid.
Feature Race
Fionn lined up P6 and made a strong start, moving up to P5 on the opening lap.
On lap nine he was passed by the quickly advancing Gladysz and dropped to P10, before losing another position to David for P11. He struggled for pace and continued to drop back through the race to finish P20.
Jin ran to P16 and led the team home in the Feature Race.
Michael Shin went off track early in the race and rejoined down the order but improved on his track position to finish P24.
All three drivers gained a place in the final classification to finish with Jin in P16, Fionn in P19 and Michael P23.
Paul Bellringer, Hitech F3 Team Manager:
“Silverstone showed both the positives and the areas we need to keep working on. Fionn’s qualifying performance and Sprint Race pace were encouraging, and we were pleased that he claimed his first FIA Formula 3 points finish on Saturday. The Feature Race was more challenging across the board, but there are clear takeaways as we move forward in the season.”
