The
first race of the Spanish Formula 3 Championship, which took place
at the Circuit of Albacete, brought a glorious victory and a second
place for Racing Engineerings Borja Garcia and Steven Kane.
Maria de Villota finished the race in eighth position. Race two
was overshadowed by many incidents, but Borja Garcia one more time
was able to jump to the top of the podium as the winner of the race.
Maria de Villota finished in ninth.
Race
1:
The first race of the season saw Borja Garcia starting from pole
position, Steven Kane right behind in second and Maria de Villota
in seventh place. Borja kept his leading position from the start
and marked the fastest lap of the race at 123.286 in his fourth
lap. He opened up a gap of three seconds to his teammate, Steven
Kane, running in second and who recorded the second fastest lap
in the race. Keeping this distance until the end of the race and
with Steven having a very comfortable gap of eight seconds with
Alvaro Barba running in third, the two Racing Engineering drivers
celebrated a remarkable start into the season.
Maria de Villota starting seventh, kept her position for most of
the race. She finished the race eighth.
Race
2:
Due to an incident in the in-lap of race one Steven Kane could not
participate in the second race of the day. Race two was one more
time characterized by Borja Garcia climbing to the top of the podium.
Borja started from second position but overtook Giao right at the
start. Borja was leading the field when after four laps the safety
car neutralized the race and right after it was red flagged. Maria
starting third, kept this position during the first laps, but when
Risatti crashed into the back of her car, she fell back into thirteenth
position. At the same time the safety car entered the track and
Maria saw herself restarting in thirteen place instead of third.
Borja, now starting in first position, has shown another incredible
start to finish victory without being under any pressure from Giao
or Risatti who were fighting for second place three seconds behind
him.
Maria, understandably disappointed with the fact of starting thirteenth,
made her way up into the points again and finished the race ninth.
After
a very successful weekend for the Racing Engineering squad, Alfonso
de Orleans said, Before anything I would like to thank the
entire team for the fantastic work they have done this weekend.
Borjas two wins were a mind blowing start into the season
and Stevens second place was rounding it up. On the other
hand I am disappointed about what happened to Maria. Seeing her
driving this weekend I am convinced, she could have made it to the
podium in the second race.
|