The Grid.co.uk the national & club motor racing website - est1998
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TOP TEN FINISH FOR HITECH IN MACAU
Like Saturday’s qualification race, yesterday’s Windsor Arch 55th Macau Grand Prix had an eventful first lap with Oliver Turvey stalling on the grid, Roberto Streit and Sam Bird colliding at the first corner and Marcus Ericsson hitting the barrier. A stunning start had 17 year-old Merhi pass a staggering 11 cars to move up to sixth from 17th on the grid, with an equally impressive opening lap by Grubmüller, up into tenth from 15th. Behind them, BRDC Superstar Chilton also got away well, the 17 year-old being forced to start from the back after a non-finish yesterday, but already into 19th at the end of lap one. The safety car was deployed to remove Ericsson’s stranded car, and at the restart Jaime Alguersuari was penalised for a jump start, forcing a drive-through penalty, and promoting Merhi to a superb fifth place just behind Kei Cozzolini and Adrian Campos-Hull. For four laps, Merhi chased them down, however at the R Bend on lap six, the teenager slammed into the barrier on the exit of the right-hander, his race over on the spot. It had been a fantastic performance by the young rookie that could easily have earnt him a podium as Cozzolini and Campos-Hull themselves later collided. For 19 year-old Grubmüller, another superb performance again saw him claw his way through the field getting up into seventh by the penultimate lap, gaining eight places from his original grid position. However, the youngster just lost out on the final tour, dropping to eighth, in his Franks-backed Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA. Chilton had an equally impressive charge through the field, the teenager starting from the back but making steady progress over the course of the 15 lap race to cross the line 14th on his Macau debut. Results of
Windsor Arch 55th Macau Grand Prix – 15 laps
FRUSTRATION FOR HITECH IN MACAU
The unfortunate Max Chilton was out at the first corner however, the 17 year-old rookie one of eight drivers who never got to the completion of the opening lap. The race got underway ten minutes later than scheduled and at the lights, Merhi, already a double F3 race winner, was unable to get away cleanly as the pack surged past, dropping him down the order. For Chilton, who had to take avoiding action, the first corner also proved his last. On the entry to Lisboa, the BRDC Superstar braked too late and locked up, running into the wall and putting him out on the spot with damage to the front of his car. Grubmüller had made a great start to hold position and managed to pick his way through the carnage, but the safety car was quickly deployed to retrieve the stricken car of James Jakes, left stranded after a collision with Brendon Hartley. This allowed Merhi to pit for a replacement front wing, which he damaged after contact with Jules Bianchi, rejoining the track in last place. At the restart two laps later, the race quickly settled down to a processional affair, with only a change for the lead looming. This allowed Merhi to get back on the pace, the youngster having competed in just a handful of F3 races, posting some impressive lap times as he clawed his way back up the order. For Grubmüller a solid drive from the 19 year-old allowed him to consolidate his position as team leader as he drove maturely in only his second Macau event. With four laps remaining, Grubmüller and Merhi were left to run an pretty uneventful race to the flag, the pair running 16th and 17th until the final tour, when Mika Maki, nursing a missing tyre, dropped down the order allowing Grubmüller to move up to 15th. All three drivers will start the main Windsor Arch 55th Macau Grand Prix tomorrow, which starts at 15:30 local time, with grid positions being determined by the results of today’s race. Grubmüller will line up on the inside of the eighth row, Merhi two places behind on row nine, while Chilton will have his work cut out, starting from near the back and with it all to do. Results of Macau
Qualification Race – 10 laps
HITECH ROUNDS OFF BRITISH F3 SEASON AT DONINGTON
Austrian Walter Grubmüller saw his chances of converting his seventh place grid slot into a maiden podium finish end with a collision with Sergio Perez at the Esses on lap two. The 19 year-old had made a good start to hold position at the completion of lap one but as the pair entered the chicane for the second time, Perez ran wide onto a damp part of the track and locked up, running into the unfortunate Grubmüller and ending his race on the spot. The Mexican was quick to apologise for his mistake which forced Walter into instant retirement. After posting the fourth quickest time in qualifying, Max Chilton was confident of a strong race despite being forced to start in 17th place after being penalised for his part in a collision in the last round and having his quickest time disallowed for improving under the yellow flags. However his chances of moving up the order were thwarted by a first lap hit from Philip Major which forced him off the track and onto the slip road at the Esses. He rejoined the track down the order but a spirited drive from the Englishman eventually netted him 12th place at the flag. For Walter, a sticking throttle on the formation lap of the 29-lap second race forced him off the grid before the race had started. He re-joined from the pit lane following repairs albeit two laps down and went on to finish 12th with the consolation of posting the fourth quickest lap. A storming drive by Max from 18th on the grid was finally rewarded with eighth place at the flag, as he clawed his way through the pack. His three points in the race moved him up to tenth place overall in the points standings and second in the Mirror.co.uk British F3 Challenge Cup. Results of
Round 21 – 29 laps
GRUBMÜLLER NETS SIXTH FOR HITECH IN ROMANIA
However a lap eight collision with early series leader Sergio Perez caused damage to his car which required a trip to the pits for repairs although he collected a point for tenth place. The qualifying session this morning allowed the pair to repeat their strong form in Friday’s free practice and Saturday’s opening round. Running third for much of the session, 17 year-old Max dropped to fifth in the dying minutes as others went marginally quicker on the final lap. For Grubmüller, a repeat of his performance in session one enabled him to post the sixth quickest time, although the Austrian admitted to being unable to find a clear track around the narrow streets of Romania. In the race, Max
made a superb start to pass first race winner Brendon Hartley off the
line, but Walter alongside him on the third row lost four places as he
bogged down, dropping him down the order. On the second lap Walter had
gained a position to take ninth while Max and John Martin were coming
under pressure from a recovering Hartley. Results of
Race Two – 20 laps
SIXTH FOR HITECH AT BUCHAREST
However on lap 12 the early championship leader Sergio Perez’s engine expired causing his retirement and elevated Walter to ninth. Then as the race neared the 30-minute mark, Ricardo Teixeira spun out, completely blocking the track and forcing the organisers to stop the race. Max Chilton: “Inevitably on street circuits you’re going to get a lot of accidents and that caused me a few problems in qualifying. You’d get a good start to the lap then you have to ease off because of the yellow flags but after almost 25 minutes I managed to get a clear run on my last lap and qualified sixth. In the race I got a really good start but then the safety car came out and even though it’s so hot, it’s hard to keep the tyre temperatures up but I managed to hold the position to the flag. I’m more used to the track now so looking ahead to second qualifying tomorrow, I hope to be able to improve on that position and get another good finish in the race.” Walter Grubmüller: “It was a pretty uneventful race for me; I managed to make up a position at the start but lost it again going into the first corner. After that I just tried to stay out of trouble as I couldn’t make any moves as it’s very narrow here. I was keeping up with the cars in front so it’s a shame I couldn’t do the job in qualifying. I was very happy with the car so now tomorrow it’s a question of staying out of traffic and hopefully I can qualifying in the top six for the race.”
Results of Race One
– 15 laps
SEVENTH FOR HITECH AT SILVERSTONE
During Friday’s qualifying session, BRDC Superstar Chilton had his flying lap ruined when he got held up by another driver winding up eighth and in the second was unable to get the best out of his new tyres, posting the 11th quickest time. For Grubmüller, understeer in the high speed corners prevented him from showing his true potential in the first session and in the second the Austrian was unable to get a clear lap, winding up 13th in both. The opening race on Saturday, held over 24 laps, was a fairly processional affair. At the lights both drivers dropped a place but Max, easily among the quickest on the track in the latter stages, was able to capitalise on a coming together between Nick Tandy and Atte Mustonen at two thirds distance to move up to seventh. Over the remaining laps Max was lapping consistently amongst the quickest on the track, at one point fastest overall, but eventually posted the fourth quickest time as he crossed the line seventh. For Walter a superb opening lap enabled him to pass Philip Major and a steady drive over the next few laps soon put him into a tremendous battle with double race winner Michael Devaney, who eventually found a way past. At just over the halfway point, Walter passed Alistair Jackson, moving him up the order but at the flag he finished just outside the points. In race two, a good start by the duo allowed them both to move up a place when pole-man Brendon Hartley was slow off the line. On lap four a recovering Hartley repassed Max pushing him down a place and then a stirring battle with John Martin ensued. By two-thirds distance a four-way battle for eighth between Devaney, Martin, Hartley and Max had got underway but as the race neared the end, Max couldn’t find a way past multiple race winner Hartley. A last lap retirement by Sam Abay elevated Max and Walter to tenth and 11th respectively at the flag. The pair will now head straight to the Bucharest street circuit in Romania for the penultimate rounds of the British Formula International Series this weekend.
Results of Round 17 – 24 laps
FASTEST LAP FOR CHILTON AS F3 DEBUTANT MERHI IMPRESSES
The race started on a wet circuit although the rain had stopped, forcing the majority of the 37 runners, including the Hitech duo to start on wet, treaded tyres. At the lights, both drivers were caught out, Max bogging down off the grid and Roberto stalling, leaving them both at the back of the field as the race got underway. With the pair’s race effectively over the team took the decision to pit and switch to dry slick tyres in a bid to get the fastest lap, a gamble that paid off as the pair steadily improved over the remaining laps. The 17 years-olds, both having their first run on Kumho tyres, drove impeccably throughout the course of the race leaving Team Principal David Hayle delighted with their performance. “I’m very happy with the outcome considering the starts they both had. We made the decision to call them both in to switch tyres and they did a superb job after that. Max was steadily improving and got quicker lap after lap. He’s certainly raised his game and that was reflected with a superb performance in qualifying and he didn’t falter in what were difficult, varying conditions throughout the event. “Roberto was very impressive all weekend too. On his first ever F3 race in an International class car and with just three hours experience prior to the race, he drove very maturely and was easily one of the quickest drivers out there at the end.” For Max the result was not what he’d hoped for after a promising qualifying session that had him line up sixth and in a good position for victory. “I didn’t get away well at all. The engine stalled but I managed to get it restarted but lost a lot of places. After that we could see that I had no chance to win so we pitted for slick tyres, along with several other drivers, but the track took a while to dry. My times were coming down every lap though and it’s good to have got the fastest lap but I think otherwise I could have easily had a top five finish.” Despite not finishing his first Masters of F3, Eurocup Formula Renault racer Roberto was very happy with his performance and that of the Hitech Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA. “The race was really good. I made a mistake at the lights, I think because it was my first F3 start in the wet which is very different from in a Formula Renault. The Hitech team is very good; they worked hard all weekend to give me a great car, which was very competitive. With a little more practice I’m sure I would not have made that mistake and could have finished in the top ten.”
Fastest time: Max Chilton 1:31.197
British Formula 3 International Championship HITECH CONTINUES ITS POINTS-SCORING FORM at SPA
However his great form was brought to a premature end when a mechanical problem slowed a car in front and forced Max to take avoiding action, allowing Henry Arundel through. For two thirds of the 12-lap race Max held onto seventh. But on lap eight, the Reigate teenager came under pressure from Adrian Campos Hull and Philip Major, the pair finding a way past at Les Combes and a lap later he’d dropped to tenth when Sebastian Hohenthal found a way past. Max crossed the
line tenth but with Invitation class runner Campos-Hull unable to score
points, Max collects points for ninth place in the series, which puts
him ninth in the points standings and second in the Mirror.co.uk
Challenge, for the top British driver. Results of Race Two 12 laps:
POINTS FOR HITECH IN SPA
Austrian Grubmüller made the perfect getaway to maintain his position off the line and by the completion of the second lap had got up to tenth. Three laps later he had closed down the gap to Daniel Campos and found a way past and up into ninth. Over the remaining laps, the 19 year-old closed down the gap to double race winner Michael Devaney for eighth. With the race distance scheduled to be 30 minutes or 12 laps, the drivers had expected the flag to be shown after the completion of lap 12 but as the field crossed the line the chequered flag failed to materialise. As they crossed the line at the end of lap 13, it looked as though Walter may gain two places when first Sam Abay then Devaney slowed allowing Walter through. The results however were declared after 12 laps with Walter still happy to have gained more championship points. For his 17 year-old team-mate Max, a flying start off the line was to prove disastrous. At the lights Max catapulted away making up four places before the cars entered La Source hairpin. However, before the second lap the BRDC Superstar was signalled to pit to receive his drive-through penalty, rejoining the track in 23rd. A spirited drive by the youngster over the remaining laps allowed him to make up several places and at the flag he crossed the line 17th. Results of Race
One – 12 laps
SOLID SIXTH FOR HITECH AND GRUBMULLER AT BRANDS Walter Grubmüller finished sixth in the first of two British Formula 3 International Series races at Brands Hatch on Sunday and backed it up with eighth in the second. His team-mate Max Chilton recovered from an accident in the opening race, to take an amazing tenth place in race two, despite an injured right foot. Austrian Grubmüller started from seventh for race one and a good getaway from the lights enabled him to get past a slow-starting Sebastian Hohenthal off the line. Thereafter a solid run by the 19 year-old netted him the third fastest race lap, underlining his pre-event pace at the Kent track. In the second race, Walter started from 12th and a lightening start catapulted him past his young team-mate Max Chilton and John Martin. Over the remaining laps of a fairly uneventful second race, Walter drove a steady race in ninth until the final lap when an error by Marcus Ericsson had him spin out of second place. This elevated Walter to eighth place and his second points-scoring finish of the day. “I made a good start and moved up a place at the start when Seb stalled. After that it was pretty uneventful though. I followed Ericsson for pretty much the whole race but he drove very defensively and it’s very hard to pass here. So it was just a case of bringing it home. The car was great and allowed me to set some quick laps. In race two I made another good start and got two places and I had to push hard to keep (Michael) Devaney behind but I couldn’t get close enough to the cars ahead.” For BRDC Superstar
Chilton, the day’s opening round had looked likely to earn him a points
scoring finish. A superb start enabled him to pass Henry Arundel,
Hohenthal and Nick Tandy off the line but before the completion of the
opening lap the 17 year-old had lost a place to Brendon Hartley at
Druids. Max’s incident injured his right foot and damaged the front of his Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA but the Hitech mechanics did a sterling job to get his car back on track for race two. At the lights the youngster was held up by a slow starting car ahead allowing two cars to pass him. A brave run through the race though netted him tenth place and a vital championship point. Max Chilton: “It
was all going to plan in race one. I’d made an awesome start and when
Arundel in front bogged down off the line and Hohenthal got a bad start,
I managed to get past them and Nick Tandy and I was already up to
seventh. However, on lap 11 I ran wide at Paddock and got into the
gravel and ending up clouting the wall, hurting my foot.
Results of Round
13 - 16 laps
TYRE FRUSTRATIONS THWART HITECH AT THRUXTON
In race two, the drivers repeated their good starts off the line and both had a steady race over the opening few laps prior to the safety car being deployed to retrieve the stranded car of Atte Mustonen at the chicane. After the restart, Walter found a way past his team-mate on the opening lap, and on the final lap, made a bid for the final championship point to no avail. At the flag, the pair again finished just outside the points in 11th and 12th. Max’s results have
consolidated his second place in the Mirror.co.uk British F3 Challenge
Cup, which will be awarded to the top British driver in the series at
the end of the season. The 17 year-old from Reigate, one of 12 British
drivers competing in the championship, is just behind Oliver Turvey in
the running for the award and ahead of Andy Meyrick in third. “Now we have to put this weekend behind us and move forward to the next rounds. We have shown time and time again that we have the pace to be quickest in testing and both drivers have shown race pace. Now we need to convert the testing pace into qualifying times to allow their race speed to come through in the form of some good results.”
Results of
Round 11
HITECH INCREASE POINTS HAUL AT SNETTERTON
Hitech Racing increased its points haul with three more top ten results in the two races at Snetterton on Sunday. Both Walter Grubmüller and Max Chilton finished in the points in race two held in glorious sunshine. For Austrian Grubmüller, his result came on the back of a top ten finish in the previous race earlier in the day. Meanwhile Chilton recovered from a poor start to finish just outside the points. Race one had the pair line up 16th and 17th and at the lights, Walter made one of his now customary lightening getaways. Max however, failed to get away from the line well and was dead last at the end of the opening lap. As Max worked his way up through the field, Walter was already up into 13th by the end of lap two and into 11th two laps later. By the midway point he was in a train of four cars battling for seventh place. But, on a track renowned for its difficulty to overtake, was unable to improve further. At the flag, Walter had made up eight places and crossed the line ninth. “It is quite hard to overtake here,” said Walter. “But I managed to make up quite a few places and in the closing stages of the race I was right in the battle for seventh.” Team-mate Chilton steadily progressed over the opening few laps but had to settle for 13th at the flag. “I needed to reposition the car on the grid and as the lights went I stalled”, said Max. “After that I was quick for the first four laps and I caught everyone up but the car went off a bit and I couldn’t progress any further.” Race two caused a fair amount of confusion for the pair and the rest of the 27-car grid. The red lights signalling the start of the race only briefly appeared before going out. For Max this didn’t prove a problem, but cost Walter a few places, which he made up before the completion of the first lap. A superb drive by the pair allowed them run consistently in a six-car nose-to-tail battle for third place. Over the closing laps Max and Walter had to push hard with the latter coming under pressure from Marcus Ericsson behind. The pair looked likely to hold seventh and eighth to the flag. However on the penultimate lap Ericsson snatched eighth place from Walter. “The start of race two was a complete mess,” said Walter. “And I lost a few places as a result. I was able to get them back though by the second corner and then kept pushing hard until I caught up with Max. We were all held up though and I made a little mistake which allowed Marcus (Ericsson) through on the penultimate lap.” “I don’t know what happened at the start of race two,” said Max. “The red light just went on then off very quickly and we all hesitated but I got away quite well. I made up a few places early on and after that it was quite a tough race because I kept trying to push the guys in front. The car was great and I’m happy to get some more points.” Team Principal David Hayle was equally happy with the result, which has extended the Buckingham-based team’s points haul. “After the qualifying positions we started from I think we did well to get three points finishes from a possible four.” Results of round 9 – 28 laps
Results of round 10 – 28 laps
CHILTON TAKES PODIUM FOR HITECH
“The race went really well,” said Max. “I didn’t really have any pressure which is always a plus as you can focus better and in the greasy conditions like we’ve had today, you’ve really got to focus. At the start I could have gone for the lead but I thought I was going to be pinned against the wall so I decided to settle for third and that was pretty much it for the rest of the race.” Austrian Walter Grubmüller made two great starts from his sixth and 17th grid positions to take ninth and 13th at the flag. “The start for race one was excellent,” said Walter. “I was right up to fourth, but I made a couple of mistakes in the laps that followed which dropped me down to ninth. The last few laps were really slippery and it was simply a case of trying to keep it on the track.” Max started race one from his second successive pole position and made a good start at the lights. However as the pack entered the first corner, he had to give way to eventual race winner Atte Mustonen who nipped through to take the lead. The next lap Max lost second place to Jaime Alguersuari at Deene hairpin with his team-mate Grubmüller just behind him in fourth. Over the course of the next few laps, Walter dropped down the order, while Max came under increasing pressure from Marcus Ericsson. At half distance Walter was enjoying a three-way battle with Croft race winner Brendon Hartley and Nick Tandy and Ericsson finally found a way past Max at Deene. The manoeuvre pushed Max wide and under braking he was forced to take avoiding action and went straight on onto the oval circuit. “I didn’t get a great start as I was on the dirty side of the track, said Max. “I didn’t have a very good first few laps either. Then Ericsson went down the inside of me on the entry to the hairpin and I started locking up so I ended up going onto the oval.” Max rejoined the track in fourth place behind Ericsson but as the rain began to fall again the track conditions began to deteriorate, sending cars spinning off. With Walter holding off a determined challenge from Hartley, Max outbraked himself on the slippery surface at Deene and was sent back up onto the oval. He rejoined again in fourth which he held to the flag.
The second
race was held on a drier track and another superb start from both
drivers enabled them to gain places on the run up to Turn One. The
stalled car of Henry Arundel on the grid caused the safety car to be
deployed and at the restart Walter was soon making up ground. For several laps he ran nose-to-tail with series leader Sergio Perez until the Mexican ran wide and onto the oval circuit. When he rejoined the track he had extended his lead leaving Walter to close down the advantage again. This he did and a last-lap attack nearly paid off for Walter, but unfortunately he just ran out of time. “In the second race I made a decent start and managed to make up a place, said Walter. “Some of the guys were a bit defensive but fair and I managed to make up a few places on the entry to the hairpin. I was having a good battle with Perez and was having a look at passing him when he went straight on onto the oval. “When he rejoined, he had a much bigger advantage and I had to do it all over again. On the very last lap, I tried pretty much everywhere to get him, but just couldn’t get past. Another lap though and I think I could have had him.” Results of Round 7
Results of Round 8
CHILTON AND HITECH CLAIM FOURTH IN ITALY
For nine laps the BRDC Superstar gradually extended his advantage over the chasing pack on a track made greasy by light rain. The Reigate teenager was looking good to take a record-breaking victory as the youngest ever winner of a British F3 race. Meanwhile his team-mate Walter Grubmüller, who took fourth place in round five, also looked likely to produce another strong result in the sixth round. After a storming start again enabled him to make up several places, the young Austrian was tagged by another car on the opening lap and pitched into a spin dropping him back to 19th. A first corner accident which had previously eliminated six cars brought out the safety car and at the restart Walter again made good progress through the field. A superb recovery allowed him to claw his way back up and he was soon battling with front-row starter Matteo Chinosi and Croft race winner Brendon Hartley. As Max extended his lead at the front to over a second and half, Walter’s race ended abruptly when he collided with Hartley on lap nine, forcing them both out on the spot. As the track dried, Max saw his healthy advantage rapidly reduced and he was gradually reeled in and passed by eventual winner Sergio Perez, who takes his second race win in succession, Esteban Guerrieri and Atte Mustonen. David Hayle; “The day didn’t produce the results we had hoped for unfortunately. After qualifying on pole with Max, we had high hopes of his first victory and when the conditions were slippery it suited him and the car very well. But as the track dried, it allowed everyone to close up and they were able to slipstream past on the straights. “Walter’s retirement in the race was very disappointing after his superb performance in Saturday’s race. He showed a lot of pace and again today was looking good for at least seventh place if not higher. Still we must put all that behind us and look forward to Rockingham next weekend.” Walter Grubmüller: “It was a very disappointing end to the weekend. After a great race yesterday and another good start in today’s race, I felt able to get another strong finish. I made up several places at the start but then got spun out on the first lap and had to do it all again. Then I was having a battle with Chinosi when Hartley and I collided. There didn’t seem to be any visible damage but I just couldn’t restart it.” Max Chilton: “I had an awesome getaway and was able to pull out quite an advantage early on while the others were all fighting behind. I was gutted though to see the safety car come out as I’d already built up a good lead. I’m fairly certain that without that I could have held on to the advantage.” Results of Round 6
FOURTH FOR Grubmüller AND HITECH
Over the course of the 30-minute race, the rapid teenager capitalised on the mistakes of his rivals and made best use of the track to claw his way through the field. “It was pure chaos out there, said Walter. “I made an excellent start and made up a couple of places. Then there was a first corner pile-up which I managed to avoid and was able to pick my way through and get up to eighth.
“It wasn’t that pleasant but I managed to avoid it and it was good to be that high up after qualifying where we did. I should have qualified higher up as a podium would have been within reach. On that last lap I could have had Turvey, although he drove quite defensive and it was very wet so it wasn’t worth trying. For tomorrow’s race, if it stays like this it should help, we’re obviously quick in the dry. You don’t get that lucky twice though to get such a good start and have a big pile-up like that. But I’ll give it my best shot.”
His team-mate Max Chilton started from the front row but was denied the chance of his first race victory when he was shunted off on the opening lap and subsequently pitted with damage to his Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA. “I didn’t get a bad start but going into the first corner Chinosi and Abay were side-by-side. We were all crawling through it and I was on the apex going in when suddenly someone rammed the back of me and spun me round. I was stuck on the track without the engine running trying to get it going. I had just started it when Bridger hit me and took off the front right corner of the car.
“I’m on pole for tomorrow’s race though and I’ll be hoping nothing bad happens then. I’m hoping it will be really wet as I’m good at starting in the rain and I always find the races easier.”
For Team Principal David Hayle, the results of the fifth round of the series produced mixed emotions; “I have to say I’m over the moon with Walter’s performance. He often races better than he qualifies and drove an absolutely superb race today. He made a great start and drove with his head, not putting a wheel wrong throughout the race. We’re all very happy for him and it bodes well for hopefully another good result tomorrow.
Seventeen year-old Chilton went into the history books as the youngest ever driver in British F3 aged 16 years and one day. Tomorrow he takes the record as the youngest ever pole-sitter in the series, aged just 17 years and 26 days.
Walter will line up on the ninth row; the Buckingham-domiciled driver unable to re-capture the form that netted him fifth in Friday’s opening free practice. On a wet track, his second fastest lap in the session secured him the 18th quickest time for the race which is scheduled to start at 15.45 tomorrow.
Results of Round 5 1. Sergio Perez T-Sport Dallara F308 Mugen-Honda 31:17.244 2. Brendon Hartley Carlin Motorsport Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA 31:21.482 3. Oliver Turvey Carlin Motorsport Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA 31:23.464 4. Walter Grubmüller Hitech Racing Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA 31:23.563 5. John Martin Raikkonen Robertson Racing Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA 31:23.698 6. Sam Abay Carlin Motorsport Dallara F308 Mercedes HWA 31:24.671
THREE POINTS-SCORING ROUNDS FOR HITECH AT CROFT
Race one was held in wet conditions and on a track on which it is notoriously difficult to overtake. Both Grubmüller and 17 year-old Chilton struggled to move up the order. However a sterling performance by 19 year-old Grubmüller saw him move up six places to cross the line 13th. “From where we started and having dropped several places at the start it wasn’t too bad,” said Walter. “It’s so hard to overtake here, really only one or two places, but obviously was a lot easier in the wet conditions. In the second race, I made a good start initially and managed to avoid the big accident, but at the restart I stalled on the grid. Despite that I managed to work my way past the slower cars and get behind Max. Not the perfect way to get points I know, but considering where we started it’s not too bad.” With Chilton struggling in the closing stages of the race and on a drying track, a clever decision by Team Principal David Hayle to bring Max into the pits to switch to dry tyres, resulted in the fastest lap of the race and an extra point. “Two rather weird points-scoring races to be honest, said Max. ”In the first race we weren’t quick enough to get any points but David made a good call to bring me in and put slick tyres on which worked as the track was really dry and I got the fastest lap. In the second, I simply wasn’t quick enough but still managed to get two points which I didn’t expect to get, particularly after the bad qualifying.” The second race was held on a dry track and a great start by both drivers had them maintain their grid positions off the line. However a first lap accident which claimed six cars caused the race to be red-flagged. While the stricken cars were removed, Walter and Max formed up on the grid to restart in their finishing positions at the end of lap 1. With Walter lining up 12th and Max 13th, the race was declared to be an aggregate of the two races and would be held over 18 laps. A good start from Chilton allowed him to hold position but Grubmüller stalled on the line and dropped to last leaving him with a huge task ahead. Despite little opportunity for overtaking, Max was able to gain four places and crossed the line ninth. Behind him, his Austrian team-mate fared better, clawing his way through the field and making up 13 places at the flag to finish tenth the pair both securing their second consecutive points-scoring result. “It was a very frustrating weekend all round really for both Walter and Max,” said David Hayle. “However we managed to salvage three points from the races, which at the end of year may make all the difference. In the first race, as the track dried Max’s tyres started to go off so we made the decision to bring him in and try for fastest lap. “We had to wait for exactly the right time to make sure there was no time for anybody else to copy but at the same time early enough to allow the tyres to come up to temperature. We timed it perfectly. “Walter drove a superb second race after his problem off the line. He overtook several cars and in the closing stages of the race, was really trying hard. It’s good for both of them to get more points to add to those they got at Oulton. Hopefully we can continue to build on that ahead of the next rounds at Monza.”
Results of Round 3 - 22 laps
Fastest lap: Max Chilton Hitech Racing 1:18.711 156.41kph 97.19mph
Results of Round 4 - 19 laps
Fastest lap Sergio Perez 1:13.656 103.86mph (New Lap Record)
SECOND AND FIFTH FOR HITECH AT OULTON Hitech Racing’s
Max Chilton secured his maiden podium finish in the opening round of the
British Formula 3 International Series at Oulton
Park
today. Starting race one from third, Walter made a good start but got boxed in as the cars entered the first corner, which dropped him down to fifth as they exited Old Hall. Chilton, alongside him on the second row, made a great start to slot into second behind Oliver Turvey. That was until first pole-sitter Jaime Alguersuari and then Brendon Hartley found a way past demoting Max to fourth. Max bided his time as two of the Carlin drivers battled ahead. Four laps from home the pair collided leaving Max to nip through into the runner-up spot to take his first podium in the series. For Walter however, the opening lap proved to be his last, a gearbox problem forcing him into the pits and instant retirement. In the day’s second race, 19 year-old Grubmüller had his best result in the series, with a superb fifth place despite struggling with wheel spin off the line, which dropped him down the order. For Max however, a slow getaway and the subsequent delay following a collision between first race winner Oliver Turvey and Nick Tandy, left him down in 14th at the flag. David Hayle, Team Principal of the Buckingham-based reigning British Formula 3 International Series champions was delighted with both drivers’ results following a consistent pre-season test programme which has seen them regularly in the top five. “I’m very happy with the results this weekend and if you’d offered me a second and fourth a few months ago I’d have taken it, said David. “However after the superb pre-season performances, and qualifying here on Saturday which netted two third places for Walter, we are all a little disappointed. “But that’s what happens when you have a good result, your expectations go up and we could well have come away with four podiums this weekend. We need to work on the starts though, that seems to have been a problem for Max particularly today, but for Walter he had a gearbox problem which was not his fault. Max Chilton: “I didn’t get a great getaway in race two, I got the hang of the handbrake and let it off at the right time but I dropped the clutch too soon and got too much wheel spin. And then about four or five got past, which meant I had to lift and then a few more got by and I dropped back to 14th. I was following Turvey and we were going round at the same pace and then he pressured Tandy into making a mistake and he smacked the tyres going into Knickerbrook. “We all had to dodge the tyres and a few more got past there and from then I just had to get to the finish really. Race one was brilliant my first ever podium in F3 and I’m still only 16 so I’m over the moon. The thing is the result in the first race pushed up my expectations for race two, which is why I was so nervous going into the race. I did so well in the first race I put a lot of pressure on myself for the second one, but it wasn’t to be.” Walter Grubmüller: “My handbrake broke just before the start hence I had a lot of wheel spin. I think after the first corner I was seventh. I was recovering a bit but I had a bit of understeer although I was able to work my way back up to fifth. So at the end of the day it’s not bad although overall the day has been a bit disappointing because of the gearbox problem in race one. “Had the handbrake not broken I may have had a better start and could have been on the podium. After a great pre-season test and the qualifying on Saturday, I had high expectations of having possibly two podium finishes this weekend so I am a little disappointed to be going home empty-handed but it’s still some good points.”
Results of Race 1 – 18 laps
Results of Race 2 – 19 laps
Results of race two remain provisional
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Hitech
Racing’s hopes of a podium finish came to an abrupt end when Spanish
driver Roberto Merhi finished his Macau Grand Prix in the barriers on
Sunday. Austrian Walter Grubmüller again reaffirmed his potential, just
losing out on seventh on the final lap, while Briton Max Chilton drove a
storming race from the back of the grid to finish 14th. 
Hitech
Racing suffered a frustrating Macau qualifying race after a dramatic
accident-filled opening lap around the tricky Guia street circuit today.
Austrian Walter Grubmüller brought his Franks-backed Dallara F308
Mercedes HWA home undamaged to claim 15th while Macau rookie Spaniard
Roberto Merhi, was unable to capitalise on his superb sixth place grid
slot, the 17 year-old stalling on the line and eventually finishing
17th.
Outgoing
British Formula 3 International Series champion Hitech Racing brought
its 2008 British season to a finish with the final two rounds at
Donington this weekend. For the Buckingham-based team there were mixed
emotions following a solid performance in qualifying on Saturday.
Austrian
Walter Grubmüller converted his sixth place grid position into a sixth
place finish in the second British Formula 3 International Series race
at Bucharest on Sunday. His young team-mate Max Chilton, who started
just ahead of him, made an impressive start to go into the first corner
fourth
Hitech
Racing continued its run of points-scoring finishes with sixth and ninth
in the opening British Formula 3 International Series race at Bucharest
on Saturday. Briton Max Chilton’s six points catapults him ahead of
Nick Tandy in the championship battle and consolidates his second place
in the Mirror.co.uk British Formula 3 Challenge Cup. While rapid
Austrian Walter Grubmüller improved on his grid position to cross the
line ninth in the shortened 15 lap race.
Hitech
Racing’s Max Chilton took two points scoring finishes at Silverstone on
Saturday with his young team-mate Walter Grubmüller also improving on
his grid position to finish just outside the points. Seventeen year-old
Chilton from Reigate, consolidated his second place in the Mirror.co.uk
British F3 Challenge Cup scoring 14 points from a possible 22 while 19
year-old Grubmüller was one of only a handful of drivers to overtake
around the 2.3mile International circuit.
Hitch
Racing driver Max Chilton recovered from a poor start to the RTL GP
Masters of F3 at Zolder today to finish 21st. The decision to bring both
Max and Roberto Merhi in on the first of 28 laps, when the track
conditions looked set to dry, paid off for Chilton as he set the fastest
lap of the race. Merhi’s impressive maiden F3 race was cut short two
laps from home, but the rapid Spaniard had been amongst the quickest on
track.
Hitech
Racing continued to rack up the points as Max Chilton took ninth in the
weekend’s second British Formula 3 International Series race at Spa-Francorchamps.
His young team-mate Walter Grubmüller had an abrupt end to his race, the
Austrian seeing his superb start wasted when he was eliminated in a
first corner clash with John Martin and Atte Mustonen. Starting
from the eighth row, BRDC Superstar Chilton made a superb start off the
line. As the pack filed into La Source for the first time, there was
contact between Sam Abay and Marcus Ericsson and the incident that
befell 19 year-old Grubmüller, allowing 17 year-old Chilton to nip up
the inside exiting the right-hander into a superb sixth place. 
Hitech
Racing’s Walter Grubmüller added to his points tally with ninth place in
the opening British Formula 3 International Series at Spa-Francorchamps
today. His team-mate Max Chilton crossed the line in 17th after being
awarded a drive-through penalty for jumping the start. 
Hitech
Racing narrowly missed out on a points scoring finish in rounds 11 and
12 of the British Formula 3 International Series at Thruxton on Sunday.
The reigning champions with Walter Grubmüller and Max Chilton finished
11th and 12th in both 24-lap races at the Hampshire circuit, after tyre
problems in qualifying prevented them from repeating their pre-event
testing performance.In race one, held in the morning, Walter started
from the seventh row with Max just behind. At the lights, a good
getaway from the young pair enabled them to move up several places and
at the flag, they were on the tail of the battle for the final
championship points, finishing just outside in 11th and 12th.
Max
Chilton took his second podium finish for Hitech Racing in round eight
of the British Formula 3 International Series at Rockingham on Monday.
The Buckingham-based team narrowly lost out on a second podium in race
one when Chilton finished fourth. 
Max
Chilton gave Hitech Racing it’s second fourth place finish of the
weekend in the sixth round of the British Formula 3 International Series
at Monza on Sunday. The 17 year-old made a superb start from his
record-breaking pole position to take the lead into the first corner. 
Less
than a tenth of a second denied Austrian Walter Grubmüller his first
podium finish when he stormed to fourth place in round five of the
British Formula 3 International Series at Monza on Saturday(17 May).
The 19 year-old Hitech Racing driver made a fantastic getaway to make up
nine places on the opening lap.
Hitech
Racing scored three points-scoring finishes in the third and fourth
rounds of the British Formula 3 International Series at Croft on Sunday
with both Walter Grubmüller and Max Chilton adding to their tally. The
Buckingham-based reigning champions put the disappointment of qualifying
behind them to record the fastest lap in race one and take ninth and
tenth in race two. 
Austrian Walter Grubmüller finished fifth in the day’s second race, his
best result in the championship. Sixteen year-old Max converted his
fourth place grid position to second place after 30 minutes of racing
however team-mate Walter was unable to capitalise on a superb third
place on the grid as he was forced to retire with a gearbox problem on
the opening lap.