Carlin's National Class team on top form
Carlin press release
Carlin Motorsport topped off a successful weekend in the International British F3 season, with another strong showing from the team’s National Class runners. Racing in their first F3 event, Henry Surtees and Adriano Buzaid were among the front runners throughout the weekend, collecting three trophies between them.
Henry Surtees made a welcome return to the Carlin team this weekend, taking part in 
his first F3 event. The 17 year-old showed he had got to grips with the F3 car in Thursday’s test session, setting the second quickest overall. Surtees went one better in Saturday’s qualifying session, clinching pole position for race one, although the time was later disallowed as Surtees, along with the majority of the grid, had his fastest time disallowed for a yellow flag infringement. Surtees therefore lined up second for the National Class race on Sunday morning, and made a lightening start to pass pole sitter Jay Bridger. Surtees went on to drive arguably one of the best races of his career, to withstand the pressure of National Class champion Bridger and win on his F3 debut. Lining up second on the grid for race two, Surtees drove another strong race to take his second podium of the weekend, finishing second in the final round of the season.
With only one day’s testing before the Donington event, Adriano Buzaid put in an impressive performance, setting the fastest time in the National Class in the first free practice session on Thursday. Taking part in his first qualifying session in an F3 car, Buzaid put his Carlin Dallara in third place on the National Class grid. The young Brazilian responded well to the pressure of his first F3 race, coming home to take third place, and a double podium for the Carlin team.
A damp track f
or second qualifying proved difficult to judge for the most experienced drivers in the series, and with little experience in the changeable conditions, Buzaid qualified fifth for the second race. Buzaid raced well however, passing more experienced drivers to finish just off the podium in fourth place.
Carlin boss Martin Stone said, “We’ve been very impressed with Henry and Adriano this weekend. Henry raced with us in Formula BMW in 2007, and it’s been great to welcome him back into the team. Henry has had a difficult year in Formula Renault this year, but I think this weekend proved he is still a great racer and has the speed to win races. Adriano had very little experience in the F3 car before this weekend, yet despite that he was able to race against and beat regular drivers in the series. There’s no doubt both drivers would have a very strong season if they chose to do F3 next year.”
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