Cotswold racer, Alice Powell, managed to keep the lead of the Formula 3 Cup Championship, on what was a mixed weekend at Brands Hatch for the 20 year old.
The F3 Cup returned to the UK for rounds 9 and 10 of the championship and Alice was back in her own car for the weekend, after the misfire was rectified.
Alice took to the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit, for the first time in two years, on Saturday morning, where she put her Mark Bailey Racing car 3rd on the grid.
With dark skies over head, the cars headed out for race one early Saturday afternoon. However, as the formation lap began, the heavens opened and the race was stopped before it had even started. This was to give the teams and drivers chance to change from slicks to wets. The race was soon under way on a rain soaked track. As the cars charged into the first corner, Alice was on the back of Hamilton Smith (P2), but contact with Smith’s rear, resulted in a damaged front wing for Alice. However, Alice managed to keep with the leaders but just could not find a way past, and crossed the line in 3rd place.
Alice lined up 3rd once again for Race Two. Powell got a good start, but championship rival, Alex Craven, got an even better start and passed Alice into turn one. From then on, it was a procession as the gap between Craven and Alice stayed around 1 second, with Alice losing some pace at the end of the race. She finished the race in 4th place.
Speaking after the weekend, Alice said “It was not the weekend we had hoped for. We had brilliant pace in the wet, even with a broken front wing! However, our pace in the dry was not as good. In the second race, we were lacking pace down the straights, as my 3rd and 4th gear was slightly too long and the car started to lose rear grip with 4 laps from the end. For next time out, we need to make sure we get these things right. Saying that, I got consistent results and point make prizes!! I am still leading the championship and I just need to make sure I am consistently in the top 5 for the remainder of the races”.
Rounds 11 and 12 of the F3 Cup are on the 17-18th August at Silverstone.
