Three of the frontrunners from the 2010 Formula Renault UK Championship headed to Rockingham this week to take part in a British Formula 3 test as part of the prize for their success in the single seater series.
Champion Tom Blomqvist, third place finisher Tama's Pa'l Kiss and six placed Ollie Millroy headed to Rockingham to complete the test. Runner up Lewis Williamson was scheduled to compete in the test, but had to pull out, allowing Millroy to take his place as the next highest placed available driver.
It is the first time this F3 prize test has taken place for the Formula Renault drivers, thanks to a new partnership between Renault Sport Technologies and British F3 Promoter SRO. The drivers were treated with tricky conditions to complete the test in, with torrential rain and low temperatures making it a real test for the drivers.
Blomqvist, the youngster Formula Renault UK Champion in history, tested a Litespeed F3 International Class car, posting a best time of 1min 35.630s in his final session. It was his second prize test for winning the championship, having taken part in a Formula Renault 3.5 World Series test in October.
Commenting on the test, Blomqvist said: “The day went well despite the atrocious weather conditions which at times felt like you were driving on ice. It was also my first time in the wet in an F3 car but overall it went well and I came away feeling confident.”
After having to miss out on the World Series test, this was Pa'l Kiss' first test for his success in the series. Running in a National Class car for Motul Team West-tec, the Hungarian driver set a best time of 1min 35.749s, narrowly slower than Blomqvist.
Speaking after the test, Pa'l Kiss said: “The conditions were really tricky out there and as such I had to adapt my driving style. Being the only car out on track too meant the water wasn't being lifted off the racing line leaving the car to aquaplane at times. Towards the end of the final session though I managed to improve my lap times and to finish in the 1min 35s was a good result.”
Also driving a National Class car for the Motul Team West-tec outfit was 20 year old Millroy, who set a best time 1 min 35.862s, meaning the three drivers were split up by just 0.232s .
Looking back at the test, Millroy commented: “The test went really well considering the conditions and I really enjoyed it. To come within two tenths of Tom's pace despite him being in an International Class car is really encouraging for me and it was great to have the opportunity to test the F3 car.”