F3 squad ready for Round 2 in Monaco
Round 2 - Monaco - Preview
Hitech’s F3 trio are ready to hit the streets of Monte Carlo, where they’ll be hoping to unlock the potential in the car and translate that into a strong performance in the principality this weekend.
Round 2 of the FIA Formula 3 Championship arrives 13 weeks since the season opener in Melbourne, with the team itching to get back on track.
It begins a spell of four rounds in five weeks – an intensive run that will demand consistency and momentum after such a long gap between races.
Jin Nakamura immediately put points on the board with ninth in the Melbourne Feature Race and heads into Round 2 leading the Hitech charge, sitting ninth in the Drivers’ standings. With the calendar shortened to nine rounds this season, every result carries added significance – and with Monaco capable of turning a race on its head in an instant, all three drivers are primed to take advantage of any opportunity that comes their way.
Melbourne and Monaco are both temporary street circuits, but they offer vastly different racing experiences. Melbourne’s Albert Park is a fast, flowing hybrid circuit with wider roads and more overtaking opportunities. Monaco is a historic, ultra-narrow, low-speed track defined by zero margin for error.
While several high-profile races have been added to the calendar in recent years, Monaco remains the jewel in the crown, an intoxicating fusion of a rich racing heritage, iconic landmarks, lavish yachts and a breathtaking 360° vista. At its heart lies a twisting 3.337km street circuit that is narrow, full of elevation shifts and tight corners, and one of the greatest tests of the skill of the drivers over the power of the cars.
The Circuit de Monaco features a demanding mix of low and high-speed corners, with the swimming pool section particularly unforgiving. Overtaking opportunities are scarce, with drivers typically making their best moves into Rascasse or on the run down from the tunnel, where the braking is exceptionally demanding.
The schedule is atypical with Practice on Thursday and Qualifying – split across two sessions – on Friday, before the Sprint Race on Saturday and the Feature Race on Sunday.
There is usually a high incidence of Safety Car interventions in the races here, which can have a decisive impact on the outcome, often to the advantage of those starting further back on the grid at a track where it is otherwise very difficult to overtake.
Paul Bellringer, Hitech’s F3 Team Manager:
“We normally arrive at Monaco after three rounds of the season, so coming here after one round and a 13-week break makes it an even greater challenge for our drivers – particularly for those tackling it for the first time. It’s another street race like Melbourne, but a very different challenge.”
Paul continued:
“After their initiation in Melbourne, the drivers are eager to start building momentum. We’re expecting to have improved the car from the test at the Red Bull Ring and work done in the simulator between races – now it’s about unlocking that performance when it counts.
“Monaco is always a roll of the dice. Changing conditions, shifting grip levels and Safety Car interventions can turn a race upside down at any moment – and we’ll be ready when they do.”
