Fortec Motorsport’s Felix Serralles secured a dominant double-pole for this weekend’s Formula 3 feature events.
The Puerto Rican lapped the famed circuit at a best of 2:15.157 to lodge pole for Saturday afternoon’s race, before setting his next best (and pole for race one) on the following tour.
Speaking of his achievement, Serralles was his usual pragmatic self:
“It’s been a long time since Monza, now finally a double pole. I love this track, it’s all about having big balls and carrying a lot of speed and that’s what I like to do with the F3 car. I’m pleased I was able to put it all together.”
Serralles with have to face down a determined Carlos Sainz Jr* in both races. Occasional misfires hampered the under pressure Spaniard, as he struggled around Spa’s long straights and fast sweeps – an excellent effort despite his mechanical deficit.
Daniel Juncadella – the recently crowned master of Zandvoort – assumed 3rd spot, some three-tenths shy of Serralles. The Prema Powerteam racer struggled on occasion with poor handling, but garnered some extra speed by cleverly utilising the draft.
Alongside Juncadella is Alex Lynn – the Fortec runner continues to impress during his début season in Formula 3 machinery.
It was less than plain sailing in the pack. British F3 rivals Jack Harvey (Carlin) and Hannes van Asseldonk (Fortec) suffered collision at Les Combes, ending their sessions prematurely. The incident was especially tough on Harvey, who missed much of practice with a misfire.
Meanwhile Euro Series favourite Raffaele Marciello struggled to find a workable balance in his Mercedes-powered Dallara, leaving the victor of Pau mired deep in the field.
National Class returnee Adderly Fong** made his presence known, sharing pole with class rival Spike Goddard. The Britain-based, Canadian born Chinese driver lost running time thanks to a crash in morning practice, but recovered to set a 2:17.826 in qualifying.
Serralles will lead Sainz Jr away for race one; however Lynn has the better of Juncadella, while van Asseldonk rounds out the top five.
* {note 1}
Sainz Jr was quickest in free practice ahead of teammate Harvey. Lynn and Serralles were next up, with Jazeman Jaafar a credible 5th.
** {note 2}
Fong was not the only “extra” driver this weekend. Pedro Pablo Calbimonte makes his British F3 debut at Spa with T-Sport in the National Class. The Bolivian is to be contesting the remaining four rounds in the championship.
At Carlin, Richard Bradley replaces Will Buller, who is competing in this weekend’s GP3 round at the Hungaroring.
2012 British F3 Round of Spa-Francorchamps (Rd 7, Race 1 grid; 2nd best times) Pos Driver Team/Car Time Gap 1. Felix Serralles Fortec Dallara-Merc 2m15.212s 2. Carlos Sainz Jr Carlin Dallara-VW 2m15.455s + 0.243s 3. Alex Lynn Fortec Dallara-Merc 2m15.715s + 0.503s 4. Daniel Juncadella Prema Dallara-Merc 2m15.821s + 0.609s 5. Hannes van Asseldonk Fortec Dallara-Merc 2m15.862s + 0.660s 6. Jazeman Jaafar Carlin Dallara-VW 2m15.899s + 0.697s 7. Pietro Fantin Carlin Dallara-VW 2m15.983s + 0.781s 8. Michael Lewis Prema Dallara-Merc 2m16.004s + 0.792s 9. Harry Tincknell Carlin Dallara-VW 2m16.060s + 0.848s 10. Jack Harvey Carlin Dallara-VW 2m16.151s + 0.939s 11. Tom Blomqvist Ma-con Dallara-VW 2m16.219s + 1.007s 12. Pipo Derani Fortec Dallara-Merc 2m16.222s + 1.010s 13. Felix Rosenqvist Mucke Dallara-Merc 2m16.329s + 1.127s 14. Nick McBride T-Sport Dallara-Nissan 2m16.386s + 1.174s 15. Raffaelle Marciello Prema Dallara-Merc 2m16.593s + 1.381s 16. Pascal Wehrlein Mucke Dallara-Merc 2m16.744s + 1.532s 17. Sven Muller Prema Dallara-Merc 2m16.750s + 1.538s 18. Fahmi Ilyas Double R Dallara-Merc 2m17.004s + 1.792s 19. Geoff Uhrhane Double R Dallara-Merc 2m17.053s + 1.841s 20. Emil Bernstorff Ma-con Dallara-VW 2m17.104s + 1.892s 21. Andrea Roda Jo Zeller Dallara-Merc 2m17.270s + 2.058s 22. Richard Bradley Carlin Dallara-VW 2m17.274s + 2.062s 23. Lucas Wolf URD Dallara-Merc 2m17.954s + 2.742s 24. Sandro Zeller Jo Zeller Dallara-Merc 2m18.163s + 2.951s 25. Luis Sa Silva Angola Dallara-Merc 2m18.300s + 3.088s 26. Spike Goddard T-Sport Dallara-Mugen 2m18.348s + 3.136s 27. Adderly Fong CF Dallara-Mugen 2m18.675s + 3.463s 28. Duvashen Padayachee Double R Dallara-Mugen 2m19.365s + 4.153s 29. Pedro Calbimonte T-Sport Dallara-Mugen 2m19.431s + 4.219s
2012 British F3 Round of Spa-Francorchamps (Rd 7, Race 1 grid; best times) Pos Driver Team/Car Time Gap 1. Felix Serralles Fortec Dallara-Merc 2m15.157s 2. Carlos Sainz Jr Carlin Dallara-VW 2m15.198s + 0.041s 3. Daniel Juncadella Prema Dallara-Merc 2m15.460s + 0.303s 4. Alex Lynn Fortec Dallara-Merc 2m15.527s + 0.370s 5. Jazeman Jaafar Carlin Dallara-VW 2m15.678s + 0.521s 6. Tom Blomqvist Ma-con Dallara-VW 2m15.697s + 0.540s 7. Jack Harvey Carlin Dallara-VW 2m15.767s + 0.610s 8. Pipo Derani Fortec Dallara-Merc 2m15.815s + 0.658s 9. Hannes van Asseldonk Fortec Dallara-Merc 2m15.834s + 0.677s 10. Harry Tincknell Carlin Dallara-VW 2m15.914s + 0.757s 11. Michael Lewis Prema Dallara-Merc 2m15.953s + 0.796s 12. Pietro Fantin Carlin Dallara-VW 2m15.972s + 0.815s 13. Felix Rosenqvist Mucke Dallara-Merc 2m16.026s + 0.864s 14. Nick McBride T-Sport Dallara-Nissan 2m16.189s + 1.032s 15. Raffaelle Marciello Prema Dallara-Merc 2m16.320s + 1.173s 16. Sven Muller Prema Dallara-Merc 2m16.570s + 1.413s 17. Emil Bernstorff Ma-con Dallara-VW 2m16.612s + 1.465s 18. Pascal Wehrlein Mucke Dallara-Merc 2m16.640s + 1.487s 19. Fahmi Ilyas Double R Dallara-Merc 2m16.681s + 1.534s 20. Geoff Uhrhane Double R Dallara-Merc 2m16.777s + 1.620s 21. Richard Bradley Carlin Dallara-VW 2m16.912s + 1.755s 22. Andrea Roda Jo Zeller Dallara-Merc 2m16.966s + 1.809s 23. Sandro Zeller Jo Zeller Dallara-Merc 2m17.503s + 2.346s 24. Lucas Wolf URD Dallara-Merc 2m17.792s + 2.635s 25. Adderly Fong CF Dallara-Mugen 2m17.826s + 2.669s 26. Spike Goddard T-Sport Dallara-Mugen 2m17.926s + 2.769s 27. Luis Sa Silva Angola Dallara-Merc 2m18.155s + 3.098s 28. Duvashen Padayachee Double R Dallara-Mugen 2m18.804s + 3.643s 29. Pedro Calbimonte T-Sport Dallara-Mugen 2m19.325s + 4.169s
