In a quite uneventful third and final race of the Mugello weekend, Jamie Chadwick completed a challenging Formula Regional weekend with a P8, as she now looks forward to a better weekend in Monza.
The third and final race of the Mugello weekend, round 3 of the 2020 Formula Regional European Championship season, was the only one contested on a dry track, after two days of alternating showers over the Tuscan hills around the world-famous racetrack.
British driver Jamie Chadwick, racing this year in the F3 Regional after a stellar 2019 season, has had a fluctuating campaign so far: after a podium finish in her debut race at Misano, she has also showed good pace at the Red Bull Ring - where she claimed a 5th place - but has also struggled at the Paul Ricard and Mugello rounds.
Starting again in 9th place for Race 3, Chadwick had a great getaway off the line and went side by side with KIC Motorsport’s star Juri Vips as the pack sprinted towards Turn 1. The Rodin Cars sponsored driver had to back off and remained in ninth place throughout the opening lap.
Ahead, the Prema trio - as the Italian powerhouse team once again dominated the weekend - went three-wide into the first corner, with polesitter Petecof holding on to first place ahead of Rasmussen and Leclerc. The two Van Amersfoort Racing cars were also battling tightly for sixth and seventh position.
After a few chaotic laps, the race went on relatively uneventful: on the second lap, Rasmussen attacked Petecof for the lead and the pair almost made contact exiting Turn 1. Rasmussen had to back off and went wide and on the grass, almost hitting Leclerc as he rejoined. Petecof was shown a warning flag for pushing his teammate wide.
The fight for the top three allowed Lappalainen to close in on the Prema cars, but the Finn could never really join the battle for the podium.
With a stunning move, Arthur Leclerc completed a pass around the outside at Turn 3 on Oliver Rasmussen and brought himself up to second. Leclerc would eventually make a move stick on Petecof as well, completing an impressive hat trick of three victories at Mugello.
Red Bull protegé Juri Vips pitted on lap 5 with technical troubles. The KIC Motorsport’s mechanics removed his engine cover, but the Estonian was utimately forced to retire from the race, promoting Jamie Chadwick to eighth place.
The W Series reigning champion spent most of the race in a lonely chase for seventh, but could not get closer to Pierre Louis Chovet.
After passing Petecof, Leclerc could not break away from the rest of the field like he had done in the previous races and had to watch his mirrors from the return of his main rival in the title chase. The Brazilian gained a few tenths of a second and at one point could get under the second margin, but he was never at striking distance and settled for second.
Patrick Pasma won the battle with his KIC teammate Konsta Lappalainen and was fourth at the finish line - just as Famularo edged Chovet for sixth.
Andrea Cola retired once again from the race when he left the track and got stuck in the gravel trap.
After 19 laps, Arthur Leclerc claimed his third victory of the weekend - and sixth of the season - in yet another Prema 1-2-3. He now leads the standings with 237 points, 8 points ahead of Gianluca Petecof.
With today’s eighth place, Jamie Chadwick advances to 58 points and currently sits seventh in the classify.
“Another tricky weekend with tough conditions, but lots to take away, and I was happy to get some points on the board." - she said.
"We got a bit unlucky in race 2 after gambling slicks and the safety car coming out, but we will now evaluate and work hard now to prepare well for Monza in a couple of weeks time." "Big thanks to the team for all their help.”
After a challenging weekend, the 22-year old Brit now looks forward to the next Formula Regional round, which will be held at the Temple of Speed - the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in two weeks time.
