Brit F3: Big grid expected at Spa

A grid approaching 30 cars is expected at this weekend’s British F3 round at Spa-Francorchamps where Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne will be looking to maintain his substantial championship lead.

The regular British championship field will be joined by six cars from the continental Euro Series, including Englishman Alexander Sims, who scored a victory on his championship debut at Silverstone the last time the two F3 series combined back in May.

He’ll be joined in Belgium by ART Grand Prix team mates Jim Pla and Nathanaël Berthon, Prema Powerteam duo Nicolas Marroc and Daniel Juncadella, as well as Mücke Motorsport’s Carlos Munoz.  

Championship leader Vergne meanwhile will be looking to protect his comfortable 51-point advantage over Oli Webb whose Fortec team mate and Rockingham race winner Daniel McKenzie proved the fastest Mercedes-powered runner at Snetterton last week.

“I’ve had one win and I want to grab at least another one,” said McKenzie. “I turned up to Rockingham knowing I was going to have a win; it was just something that I knew was going to happen, and I hope it will be the same at Spa. It’s my favourite circuit and I think the car will be quick there. The car is working well, I’ve worked really hard with the team and my engineer, and I’m extremely confident.”

Others to watch out for this weekend include Adriano Buzaid who scooped a damp race two victory at Spa last season. Carlin team mate James Calado will be desperately hoping to turn what’s so far proven a difficult season around – the Racing Steps Foundation driver lies 84 adrift of Vergne in the standings – while Will Buller, who knows Spa from his time in Formula BMW Europe, could also be a threat for his first British F3 win.

In the National Class, James Cole heads T-Sport team mate Menasheh Idafar by just five points.

Catch British F3 coverage on Motors TV throughout 2010.

Tom Hornsby