Red Bull Ring, Austria, 10th April 2014 - Young Indonesian Sean Gelael kept up his very encouraging form in pre-season testing for the FIA Formula 3 European Championship by making the top 10 at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.
On the circuit that will host this year’s Austrian Grand Prix, Sean was 10th fastest from the 28-car field on the first afternoon of the two-day test.
He showed good progress in the other three sessions too, with 17-year-old Gelael’s Jagonya Ayam with Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen going 12th quickest on the second morning.
The Red Bull Ring test represented the last chance for the competitors to carry out crucial testing on their high-tech Formula 3 racing cars before the season begins in anger next week at Silverstone, with free practice and qualifying on Friday 18th April, two races on Saturday 19th April and the third race on Sunday 20th April.
With cold weather conditions – and even a small amount of snow before testing started on the second day! – the Red Bull Ring, which features long straights, provided very good preparation for Silverstone. The British circuit is also extremely fast and is renowned for its gloomy climate, so the tyres and engines should react in a similar way.
“It was a really good test,” said Sean. “It was very pleasing to get into the top 10 on the first afternoon, and this showed the fantastic progress we have made with the Jagonya Ayam with Carlin team, who are so professional. This helps me learn so much.
“It was a good second day too. The morning session was going really well and I had very good pace on new tyres, but we ended our run a little bit early. I had the pace to get back into the top 10 easily.
“In the afternoon session I had many good opportunities for strong lap times but little things would keep happening – either I would make a small mistake or there would be traffic getting in my way. With a perfect lap I could even have made the top six I think.
“But anyway, this is testing and the important thing is not the lap times but finding out what you are capable of and learning all the time. I know that if I went back to the Hungaroring, where we had our first pre-season test a few days ago, I would be much better. We have found good improvements in the car and I am getting better and better.”
Britain’s Tom Blomqvist missed the first day of testing due to an engine issue with his Jagonya Ayam with Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen, but was fastest of all on the second morning of the test.
Italian Antonio Giovinazzi was second fastest in two of the four sessions in his Jagonya Ayam with Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen, and third in another. (ms/arl)
