Filip Ugran

fia formula 3-le castellet,18-20 june 2021

FIRST PODIUM FOR WILLIAMS IN LE CASTELLET

The 2021 FIA F3 met up for the second event of the season as they ran as part of the Formula One programme at the French Grand Prix 2021, held at Le Castellet on the historic Paul Ricard Circuit. Weather conditions were perfect for the event and it was very clear just how close the competition is within this highly competitive field.

RACE ONE QUALIFYING

Friday, 18/06/21, 13.50 – 14.20, Weather: Sunny, 29°C

In preparation for Formula 1 the run off parts next to the track had been re-painted, and it appeared that these parts were now very slippery. Our drivers gave their best in free practice on Friday morning and managed promising positions. Calan was three thousandst of a second ahead of Johnathan in 9^th position. Johnathan, who had never driven on this track before, managed a top ten position with 10^th place. Filip reached 28^th position.
The qualifying session started just under three hours later. The temperature had now reached a hot 28° C. A few minutes after the start, Leclerc stalled on the track with a technical problem. The session was interrupted with the red flag until the vehicle was cleared away. Only two drivers had just finished their first flying lap, all others had to break off their well-prepared first lap. After that, it was a matter of keeping your nerve and relaunching yourself. Calan managed a fast lap and installed himself in 10^th place with the first set of tires. Johnathan might have wanted a little too much and overpushed. He was in 22^nd place. Filip got a very good lap in and he moved up to 24^th place. With the 2^nd set, Calan went well beyond the track limits and the lap time was deleted. Calan the managed the 12^th best time until the end. According to the regulations, this meant that he would start from pole position in the first race! Johnathan finished 20^th on the first starting grid, and Filip finally achieved 27^th place.

FIA F3 CHAMPIONSHIP

RACE ONE (40 MINUTES)

Saturday, 19/06/21, 10.10, Weather: Sunny, 26°C

Calan was on the front row for the first time in this category – and also on pole position. He got off to a very good start and Calan managed to confidently lead the field for the first six laps. But with the help of the DRS, Smolyar finally managed to get past Calan. The rest of the race was very exciting, and until the end the leader and the places behind changed several times. After an excellent race, Calan finished in 4^th place. But Iwasa received a time penalty, and with that Calan climbed onto the podium as a proud 3^rd, deservedly! Johnathan was unhappy because Frederick had braked a few turns after take-off and shot into the stern of Johnathan. Johnathan spun off the track and stopped with the vehicle damaged. Unfortunately, that was the end of his race. Filip didn’t get off well at the start and dropped back to 29^th place. After a few laps he found his rhythm and managed to make up several places. He reached the goal in 24^th place.

FIA F3 CHAMPIONSHIP

RACE TWO (40 MINUTES)

Saturday, 19/06/21, 16.40, Weather: Sunny, 28°C

Calan also got off to a good start to the second race. He soon passed Correa and secured 9^th place. He had no problem keeping up with the race pace in this top group. Towards the end of the race he also managed to overtake Iwasa and crossed the finish line in an excellent 8^th place. After the start, Filip went wide and lost a few places. After a few laps he had regained the positions. Johnathan, who wanted to work his way from the very back more forward, was now also competing in the same group, which fought very hard among themselves. In the end, Johnathan finished in 26^th place and Filip in 28^th place.

FIA F3 CHAMPIONSHIP

RACE THREE (40 MINUTES)

Sunday, 20/06/21, 11.40, Weather: Rain, 24°C

When the large field of the FIA F3 was advancing to the pre-grid, thick raindrops began to fall. Dark clouds hung over the circuit, and soon it was raining heavier. The whole field opted for rain tires. Calan had a good start and held his position in the big spray. Just before the middle of the race, the rain lessened and the track slowly began to dry. Now it was going to show who could still cope well with rain tyres for the remaining distance. Calan went back a few places at some stage, but in the end he had worked his way back to 12^th place. Johnathan didn’t get away at the start and fell back to last place. He managed to make up position after position and finally made it up to 18^th place. Filip was very careful on the first few laps of the race. Later he managed several good overtaking maneuvers and saw the checkered flag in 26^th place.

Source: https://www.jenzermotorsport.ch/en/?view=article&id=1431:fia-formula-3-le-castellet-18-20-june-2021&catid=47