- Double R Racing Swede doubles up in Belgium
- Championship lead now up to 120 points
Linus Lundqvist was on top form as the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship raced abroad this weekend, clinching an emphatic double win at Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps to considerably stretch his overall lead.
Lundqvist, a Formula 3 rookie in 2018, picked up where he left off before the six-week summer break to dominate proceedings in the Ardennes forest, winning both the first and final race of the triple-header event.
The Double R Racing Swede delivered both wins in similar style, starting from the front row alongside pole-sitter Tom Gamble but snatching the lead after emerging on top following some action-packed opening laps.
Once out in front, Lundqvist then controlled the pace and drove off to victory, becoming the first driver this year to win twice in a single weekend.
All in all, Lundqvist has now triumphed in six out of 15 races this season, extending his championship lead to a significant 120 points; more than the amount available during an entire race meeting.
“Absolutely incredible,” says Linus Lundqvist. “I’m almost lost for words… To win twice here at Spa, which is such a challenging and historic track, really is a dream come true. The team has done a perfect job throughout the weekend, we nailed the set-up of the car, and I felt very confident with my driving. I think this was an important weekend coming off the summer break, and this just goes to show that we certainly haven’t been complacent. Yes, it’s looking good in the championship at the moment, but we won’t fall into that trap. We’ll keep working like we always do, while also enjoying this moment for a while.”
Along with his victories in races one and three, Lundqvist also managed to out-score all of his main championship rivals in the reverse-grid Race 2, where he powered through from last on the grid (due to winning Race 1) to take eighth place. In the process, he also set the fastest lap of the race despite starting on used tyres for strategic reasons, opting to save his freshest set for the subsequent Race 3.
The next round of the BRDC British F3 Championship takes place at Brands Hatch on August 3-5.
RESULTS (top five)
BRDC British F3 Championship
Round 5 | Spa-Francorchamps
Race 1
1: Linus Lundqvist, Double R, 8 laps
2: Tom Gamble, Fortec, +0.495s
3: Krish Mahadik, Double R, +3.229s
4: Manuel Maldonado, Fortec, +4.206s
5: Nicolai Kjaergaard, Carlin, +6.386s
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Race 2 (reversed grid)
1: Jamie Caroline, Carlin, 9 laps
2: Tristan Charpentier, Fortec, +3.085s
3: Sasa Chaimongkol, Hillspeed, +3.586s
4: Ayrton Simmons, CDR, +4.575s
5: Krish Mahadik, Double R, +6.245s
—
8: Linus Lundqvist, Double R, +8.504s
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Race 3
1: Linus Lundqvist, Double R, 9 laps
2: Tom Gamble, Fortec, +0.770s
3: Billy Monger, Carlin, +4.030s
4: Manuel Maldonado, Fortec, +5.605s
5: Jusuf Owega, Hillspeed, +14.602s
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CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (top five)
BRDC British F3 Championship
After 15/24 races
1: Linus Lundqvist, 412 p.
2: Nicolai Kjaergaard, 292 p.
3: Kush Maini, 265 p.
4: Tom Gamble, 261 p.
5: Krish Mahadik, 209 p.
Click here to view full standings