Randle wins for Douglas Motorsport as British F3 visits Spa-Francorchamps

The 2016 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship visited the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium last weekend for rounds 16,17 & 18 of the hotly contested series.

Spa Francorchamps

Location: Francorchamps, Stavelot,Belgium

Length: 7.004km (4.352 mi)

In practise both Enaam Ahmed and Thomas Randle were right on the pace with the duo second and third respectively in the first session before topping the timesheets in both Practise two and Practise three.

Enaam Ahmed and Thomas Randle

Unfortunately luck was not with the Douglas Motorsport pairing in qualifying as they failed to pick up a tow, crucial to the F3 cars on the high speed Grand Prix circuit, relegating Ahmed to fifth and Randle to seventh.

In the opening race, Ahmed drove well to finish fourth just over two seconds behind the winner, but Randle dropped to the back of the field after contact with another car sent him spinning, recovering to ninth by the flag.

Things were to get a lot better for Randle in race two however, as he immediately leaped from his ninth position starting position to cross the line at the end of the first lap in an impressive fourth place. Next on his list was his Douglas Motorsport team mate Ahmed and after a great battle, he finally slipstreamed by to take third on the Kemmel straight. Clearly fired up, he then snatched second place and began to close down longtime leader Toby Sowery. On the final lap he was close enough and replicated his earlier move to take the lead on the Kemmel straight, holding on to take his second British F3 win of the year. Emaam was right in the mix too, crossing the line in fourth place and only missing the final podium spot by two tenths of a second.

In the third and final race, Randle again battled mightily, eventually crossing the line in 5th place for some more valuable championship points whilst Ahmed was unfortunate enough to lose a wing after contact. He pitted and the team fitted a new one but the opportunity to make further progress was gone.Thomas Randle now lies 3rd in the title chase, with Enaam Ahmed in 5th with 6 rounds still to run.

Thomas Randle: “‘It was a challenging weekend at the beginning with the qualifying not going our way and being turned around in race one, but to bounce back really strong on Saturday with a win in race 2 and a fifth place in race 3 with good pace and not losing any ground to the championship leader left me feeling really positive and now I’m really looking forward to Snetterton..”

Wayne Douglas, Team Principal, Douglas Motorsport: “All in all the team is really happy, we have had both drivers win 2 races (on the road anyway) and go into the last two rounds with both drivers fighting for top 3 finishes in the championship.”

The next round of the 2016 BRDC British Formula 3 Championship partnered by Duo takes place at Snetterton on 6/7 August.

Practice - 7th July

BRDC British Formula 3 – First Practice – Spa-Francorchamps

1. Matheus Leist, Double R Racing, 2m17.256s
2. Enaam Ahmed, Douglas Motorsport, +0.162s
3. Thomas Randle, Douglas Motorsport, +0.300s
4. Lando Norris, Carlin, +0.439s
5. Will Palmer, HHC Motorsport, +0.481s
6. Ricky Collard, Carlin, +0.609s
7. Thomas Maxwell, Sean Walkinshaw Racing, +0.611s
8. Aleksanteri Huovinen, Double R Racing, +1.120s
9. Eugene Denyssen, Sean Walkinshaw Racing, +1.444s
10. Tarun Reddy, Fortec Motorsports, +1.822s
11. Quinlan Lall, Chris Dittmann Racing, +2.070s
12. Ben Hingeley, HHC Motorsport, +2.091s
13. Toby Sowery, Lanan Racing, +2.106s
14. Sisa Ngebulana, HHC Motorsport, +2.181s
15. Al Faisal Al Zubair, Fortec Motorsports, +2.310s
16. Akhil Rabindra, Lanan Racing, +2.960s
17. Krishnaraaj Mahadik, Chris Dittmann Racing, +3.124s
18. Enzo Bortoleto, Double R Racing, +3.763s
19. Jeremy Wahome, Chris Dittmann Racing, +4.766s
20. Wing Chai, Fortec Motorsports, +8.798s

BRDC British Formula 3 – Spa-Francorchamps – Second Practice

1. Thomas Randle, Douglas Motorsport, 2m16.693s
2. Enaam Ahmed, Douglas Motorsport, +0.209s
3. Ricky Collard, Carlin, +0.362s
4. Lando Norris, Carlin, +0.427s
5. Matheus Leist, Double R Racing, +0.563s
6. Thomas Maxwell, Sean Walkinshaw Racing, +0.632s
7. Eugene Denyssen, Sean Walkinshaw Racing, +0.692s
8. Will Palmer, HHC Motorsport, +1.044s
9. Toby Sowery, Lanan Racing, +1.122s
10. Aleksanteri Huovinen, Double R Racing, +1.161s
11. Tarun Reddy, Fortec Motorsports, +1.471s
12. Enzo Bortoleto, Double R Racing, +1.896s
13. Al Faisal Al Zubair, Fortec Motorsports, +2.001s
14. Akhil Rabindra, Lanan Racing, +2.017s
15. Ben Hingeley, HHC Motorsport, +2.170s
16. Sisa Ngebulana, HHC Motorsport, +2.259s
17. Quinlan Lall, Chris Dittmann Racing, +2.325s
18. Krishnaraaj Mahadik, Chris Dittmann Racing, +3.231s
19. Jeremy Wahome, Chris Dittmann Racing, +3.583s
20. Chai Wing, Fortec Motorsports, +8.862s

BRDC British Formula 3 – Spa-Francorchamps – Third Practice

1. Enaam Ahmed, Douglas Motorsport, 2m17.731s
2. Thomas Randle, Douglas Motorsport, +0.005s
3. Eugene Denyssen, Sean Walkinshaw Racing, +0.052s
4. Will Palmer, HHC Motorsport, +0.092s
5. Thomas Maxwell, Sean Walkinshaw Racing, +0.189s
6. Lando Norris, Carlin, +0.278s
7. Matheus Leist, Double R Racing, +0.505s
8. Ricky Collard, Carlin, +0.903s
9. Aleksanteri Huovinen, Double R Racing, +0.955s
10. Tarun Reddy, Fortec Motorsports, +1.318s
11. Ben Hingeley, HHC Motorsport, +1.642s
12. Enzo Bortoleto, Double R Racing, +1.719s
13. Jeremy Wahome, Chris Dittmann Racing, +2.077s
14. Quinlan Lall, Chris Dittmann Racing, +2.079s
15. Al Faisal Al Zubair, Fortec Motorsports, +2.192s
16. Krishnaraaj Mahadik, Chris Dittmann Racing, +2.308s
17. Sisa Ngebulana, HHC Motorsport, +2.318s
18. Akhil Rabindra, Lanan Racing, +2.982s
19. Chai Wing, Fortec Motorsports, +7.589s
20. Toby Sowery, Lanan Racing, No time recorded

Qualifying - 8th July

BRDC British Formula 3 Championship – Spa-Francorchamps – Qualifying

1. Lando Norris, Carlin, 2m16.820s
2. Ricky Collard, Carlin, +0.092s
3. Will Palmer, HHC Motorsport, +0.410s
4. Matheus Leist, Double R Racing, +0.574s
5. Enaam Ahmed, Douglas Motorsport, +0.722s
6. Thomas Maxwell, Sean Walkinshaw Racing, +0.759s
7. Thomas Randle, Douglas Motorsport, +0.800s
8. Eugene Denyssen, Sean Walkinshaw Racing, +0.806s
9. Toby Sowery, Lanan Racing, +0.899s
10. Tarun Reddy, Fortec Motorsports, +0.916s
11. Sisa Ngebulana, HHC Motorsport, +1.147s
12. Aleksanteri Huovinen, Double R Racing, +1.316s
13. Enzo Bortoleto, Double R Racing, +1.665s
14. Ben Hingeley, HHC Motorsport, +1.724s
15. Akhil Rabindra, Lanan Racing, +1.885s
16. Krishnaraaj Mahadik, Chris Dittmann Racing, +1.989s
17. Quinlan Lall, Chris Dittmann Racing, +2.182s
18. Jeremy Wahome, Chris Dittmann Racing, +2.602s
19. Al Faisal Al Zubair, Fortec Motorsports, +2.836s

Race 1 - 8th July

BRDC British Formula 3 Championship – Spa-Francorchamps – Race One

1. Lando Norris, Carlin, 5 Laps
2. Matheus Leist, Double R Racing, +1.384s
3. Ricky Collard, Carlin, +1.858s
4. Enaam Ahmed, Douglas Motorsport, +2.131s
5. Toby Sowery, Lanan Racing, +3.213s
6. Tarun Reddy, Fortec Motorsports, +7.909s
7. Ben Hingeley, HHC Motorsport, +10.659s
8. Al Faisal Al Zubair, Fortec Motorsports, +13.153s
9. Thomas Randle, Douglas Motorsport, +15.395s
10. Enzo Bortoleto, Double R Racing, +16.044s
11. Eugene Denyssen, Sean Walkinshaw Racing, +16.778s
12. Jeremy Wahome, Chris Dittmann Racing, +17.654s
13. Sisa Ngebulana, HHC Motorsport, +18.322s
14. Krishnaraaj Mahadik, Chris Dittmann Racing, +19.088s
15. Thomas Maxwell, Sean Walkinshaw Racing, +1m12.913s
16. Will Palmer, HHC Motorsport, +1m13.868s
DNF. Quinlan Lall, Chris Dittmann Racing, 4 Laps
DNF. Akhil Rabindra, Lanan Racing, 4 Laps
DNF. Aleksanteri Huovinen, Double R Racing, 0 Laps

Race 2 - 9th July

BRDC British Formula 3 Championship – Spa-Francorchamps – Race Two

1. Thomas Randle, Douglas Motorsport, 9 Laps
2. Toby Sowery, Lanan Racing, +0.469s
3. Tarun Reddy, Fortec Motorsports, +3.696s
4. Enaam Ahmed, Douglas Motorsport, +3.882s
5. Matheus Leist, Double R Racing, +4.096s
6. Ricky Collard, Carlin, +4.551s
7. Sisa Ngebulana, HHC Motorsport, +8.424s
8. Ben Hingeley, HHC Motorsport, +9.430s
9. Al Faisal Al Zubair, Fortec Motorsports, +10.568s
10. Enzo Bortoleto, Double R Racing, +10.685s
11. Will Palmer, HHC Motorsport, +11.717s
12. Krishnaraaj Mahadik, Chris Dittmann Racing, +12.221s
13. Thomas Maxwell, Sean Walkinshaw Racing, +12.369s
14. Eugene Denyssen, Sean Walkinshaw Racing, +13.397s
15. Aleksanteri Huovinen, Double R Racing, +13.785s
16. Quinlan Lall, Chris Dittmann Racing, +18.228s
17. Jeremy Wahome, Chris Dittmann Racing, +20.114s
18. Akhil Rabindra, Lanan Racing, +24.191s
19. Lando Norris, Carlin, +1Lap

Race 3 - 9th July

BRDC British Formula 3 Championship – Spa-Francorchamps – Race Three

1. Lando Norris, Carlin, 9 Laps
2. Matheus Leist, Double R Racing, +0.508s
3. Will Palmer, HHC Motorsport, +3.065s
4. Toby Sowery, Lanan Racing, +8.561s
5. Thomas Randle, Douglas Motorsport, +8.881s
6. Ricky Collard, Carlin, +10.187s
7. Thomas Maxwell, Sean Walkinshaw Racing, +10.694s
8. Eugene Denyssen, Sean Walkinshaw Racing, +11.076s
9. Tarun Reddy, Fortec Motorsports, +11.806s*
10. Ben Hingeley, HHC Motorsport, +15.200s
11. Sisa Ngebulana, HHC Motorsport, +17.002s
12. Enzo Bortoleto, Double R Racing, +17.471s
13. Quinlan Lall, Chris Dittmann Racing, +17.826s
14. Al Faisal Al Zubair, Fortec Motorsports, +21.259s
15. Krishnaraaj Mahadik, Chris Dittmann Racing, +22.360s
16. Aleksanteri Huovinen, Double R Racing, +24.318s
17. Akhil Rabindra, Lanan Racing, +24.643s
18. Jeremy Wahome, Chris Dittmann Racing, +1m44.492s
19. Enaam Ahmed, Douglas Motorsport, 2m11.624s

*Given a one-second time penalty for gaining an unfair advantage

Spa Gallery:

This video of Douglas Motorsport drivers performing multiple overtakes and bump-drafting through Eau-Rouge has been a hit online and on social media. #teamDouglas

Championship Standings:

1.	Collard, R	354pts
2.	Leist, M	350pts
3.	Randle, T	335pts
4.	Sowery, T	321pts
5.	Ahmed, E	263pts
6.	Norris, L	247pts
7.	Reddy, T	197pts
8.	Bortoleto, E	190pts
9.	Maxwell, T	190pts
10.	Huovinen, A	188pts