Following a competitive start to the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship season a fortnight ago, leading team SWR is targeting continued progress for its three rookie drivers when the second event of the 2016 season takes place at the legendary Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit a week from now.
Taking dual headline billing with the British GT Championship at the Kent track on 16th/17th April, rounds four, five and six of the F3 season will again mark a fresh challenge for Thomas Maxwell, Jan Jonck and Eugene Denyssen – all of whom scored in all three races at Snetterton on Easter weekend.
Notably, the Chipping Norton squad’s cosmopolitan entry had to contend with some atrocious weather on their debut appearances in BRDC British Formula 3 but they each performed admirably as Storm Katie battered the Norfolk track and left in her wake some very wet conditions.
Maxwell, who goes into the Brands Hatch event next weekend as SWR’s highest placed driver in the championship in equal seventh position, will be determined to build on the experience gained on his UK racing debut. Achieving a best result of seventh place in round two, the Australian 17-year-old is undoubtedly capable of challenging for the top six on the famous Grand Prix track.
Denmark’s Jan Jonck also achieved a best finish of seventh place at Snetterton, in the rain affected opening round of the season on Easter Sunday, and the multiple Formula Ford race winner will again be a driver to watch at Brands Hatch. The 17-year-old heads into the second event of the campaign just outside the championship top 10.
Denyssen, the least experienced of SWR’s trio in car racing terms, holds 16th position in the driver standings going into the Brands Hatch weekend and the South African, like his team-mates, has his sights set on making strong gains on his second weekend of racing at F3 level.
“Everyone at the team is looking forward to being back at Brands and Tom, Jan and Eugene can’t wait to get out on the GP track”, said SWR team owner Sean Walkinshaw, who is in competitive action himself this weekend in the Blancpain Sprint Cup at Misano in Italy, “We made a good, solid start to the season at Snetterton and all three guys have plenty to build on going forward.
“The first weekend was a real lottery with the weather, but the drivers did a great job and it was so important to finish all three races and gain as much experience as possible. We’re not setting any real targets for Brands but we are confident of making some good progress.”
Qualifying at Brands Hatch GP Circuit will get underway at 11.40 on Saturday, 16th April, with round four of the season scheduled to start at 14.55. On Sunday, 17th April, rounds five and six are scheduled to take place at 10.50 and 16.30 respectively.
2016 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship Driver Standings (after Rd3):
7th Thomas Maxwell & Enzo Bortoleto, 36pts; 11th Jan Jonck, 27pts; 16th Eugene Denyssen, 17pts