{"id":3617,"date":"2021-08-30T20:27:37","date_gmt":"2021-08-30T20:27:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sundaymanagement.com\/?p=3617"},"modified":"2021-08-30T20:27:37","modified_gmt":"2021-08-30T20:27:37","slug":"record-setting-f3-podium-for-crawford-at-spa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sundaymanagement.com\/index.php\/2021\/08\/30\/record-setting-f3-podium-for-crawford-at-spa\/","title":{"rendered":"Record-Setting F3 Podium for Crawford at Spa"},"content":{"rendered":"

STAVELOT, Belgium (29 August 2021)<\/strong> \u2013 Red Bull Junior Team driver Jak Crawford turned in his best performance of the FIA Formula 3 season with a second-place finish in the opening race at Spa-Francorchamps. The podium result marks the youngest-ever podium result in series history, with Crawford having turned 16 earlier this year.<\/p>\n

The young American Formula 1 hopeful from Texas braved horrendous weather conditions throughout his debut at the 4.352-mile circuit, the longest track on the schedule, in his fifth F3 weekend of the season.<\/p>\n

After finishing second in Saturday morning\u2019s opener, the Hitech Grand Prix driver placed 12th in each of the event\u2019s remaining races, after qualifying 11th on Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a pretty good weekend, my best one race finish so far,\u201d Crawford said. \u201cI\u2019m happy with the podium, and it gives me a lot of confidence \u2013 a little less pressure to get that first podium. In terms of performance, we really didn\u2019t have the car pace in the wet. It\u2019s a shame we didn\u2019t get to see what we had in the dry. It was absolutely dreadful weather-wise with all the rain, and a bit cold as well!\u201d<\/p>\n

With qualifying beginning in heavy rain, Crawford found himself 16th with 10 minutes remaining on Friday. He ran a lap of 2:23.964-seconds, moving up to 10th position for the 29-car grid. Following a slow lap, Crawford pushed for a fast final tour of the circuit. However, a late incident brought out a red flag, negating his late effort and putting him 11th fastest.<\/p>\n

\u201cQualifying was a weird one,\u201d he said. \u201cWe were working on the set-up and we didn\u2019t get out immediately like we wanted to, because that\u2019s when the best times were. It started to rain on my first push and I didn\u2019t get my best lap when the track was the best, but I was happy to qualify in the top 12. That\u2019s what put me in the position for the podium.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the top 12 qualifiers inverted for Saturday morning\u2019s opening race, Crawford started on the outside of the front row, and was able to capitalize on that position. The event was delayed by fog and then heavy rain, with the start suspended following three formation laps. Rain let off enough for a rolling start on lap four. Crawford got away in second place as spray enveloped the field, and held the position for the 15-lap event as the top two managed to pull away.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don’t think we were the quickest, but I held my position well,\u201d he said. \u201cI really didn\u2019t have the pace of the leader, and he checked out, but I was holding the pace of the guys behind me. I was just trying to chill and relax, and work on my driving a bit. It was very wet, so it was difficult to push, and I was happy with the race.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn’t too bad,\u201d Crawford said of the conditions. \u201cI’m sure people in the mid-pack had it a lot worse than I did. [The winner] was so quick in the beginning he was able to get the tires going a lot quicker, and so the visibility wasn’t too bad when he pulled away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Race two had Crawford falling to 15th on the opening lap as the top 12 finishers from the opening race were inverted. He gained three positions in the closing laps, with intensifying rain bringing out several incidents that caused the race to end under caution.<\/p>\n

\u201cRace 2 was a bit more difficult,\u201d Crawford explained. \u201cI thought I was quick, but I didn’t have a good first lap and I lost some positions. It was really difficult to pass and difficult to see.\u201d<\/p>\n

More rain and cooler temperatures returned for Sunday morning\u2019s final race. Crawford started 11th based on his qualifying time, and held that position following a rolling start after three formation laps. He briefly fell to 13th on lap eight, but regained the positions and took the checkered flag in 11th after 14 laps.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Race 3 I didn\u2019t have the best pace, but I made the most with what I had,\u201d Crawford said. \u201cIt\u2019s a shame I didn\u2019t get any points in those two races, but I think I did the best job I could.\u00a0 My teammates and I finished around each other each day so it was a car issue mostly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Only two weekends remain on the F3 schedule. Next weekend, the series visits Circuit Zandvoort in the Netherlands for the revived Dutch Grand Prix. Following a seven-week break, competition concludes at Crawford\u2019s home track, Austin\u2019s Circuit of The Americas, on Oct. 23-24.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m excited to go to Zandvoort,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve been there before in F4 to test last year on the new track. I love the new track, and I can\u2019t wait to go there. It will be interesting, because no one has been there in these cars before, so it will be a bit of an unknown for the teams and drivers. The track is fun and it will be enjoyable. I just hope it isn\u2019t raining like this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Running a double-schedule, Crawford also has four victories and two seconds in Euroformula Open, competing for Team Motopark. The next Euroformula Open event is at Austria\u2019s Red Bull Ring on Sept. 10-12, giving Crawford three-consecutive weekends of competition.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Media Contact:\u00a0<\/strong>media@sundaymanagement.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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