Red Bull Rings, 3rd June 2013 - Boosted by his incredible weekend in the British Formula 3 International Series at Silverstone, Indonesia’s Sean Gelael returned to the FIA Formula 3 European Championship and showed some of his most competitive frd Juorm to date on the spectacular Red Bull Ring in Austria.

On a track surrounded by snow-capped mountains, 16-year-old Gelael’s intended learning season in Formula 3 was yet again disrupted by bad weather during free practice and qualifying. The Red Bull Ring is another track that was unknown to Sean, and his bid to learn it was set back by constant rain throughout the Friday running.

“It was a bit of a disaster,” said Sean. “Everything went wrong for us and these European weather conditions certainly are not helping me catch up with the experience of all the other drivers! As a result, we just could not get it right in qualifying.”

But Gelael never gives up, and he made good starts to all three races, which took place in the dry. Over the opening few laps of race one, Sean and his Double R Racing Dallara-Mercedes made up four positions and he even survived a push from behind from Australian Spike Goddard just before the half-distance point.

Unfortunately, he was given a drive-through penalty by the officials, whereby for one lap he had to take to the pit-lane and drive along it at slow speed – the motor racing equivalent of conceding a free kick in football. This pushed him further down the field, but some highly impressive lap times near the end of the race showed how well he was learning the circuit.

In race two, Gelael again made up positions and he pushed hard, passing German Andre Rudersdorf and latching onto a train of cars consisting of three drivers who sometimes run at the front of the field – Sean’s own team-mate Antonio Giovinazzi, Dutchman Dennis van de Laar and multiple F3 race winner Felix Serralles! This highly impressive performance featured some more excellent lap times and he was rewarded with 15^th position out of the 28-car field – one of his best European F3 races to date.

There was more of the same in race three, with Gelael pulling off a neat pass on Goddard and then battling with Rudersdorf and American Michael Lewis – another driver who often features at the front.

Sadly, on the penultimate lap Rudersdorf bounced off a kerb and, out of control, hit the side of Sean’s car, the duo tangling together and careering out of the race after battling for 15^th position.

“We definitely made some improvements in the races,” said Gelael. “It was a shame to get the penalty in race one, but I found more speed and then really enjoyed battling throughout the second race. The car was feeling better and better.

“Since taking those two podium finishes in the British F3 at Silverstone, we made a big step forward. There is a big jump in the car, in my driving, and a best finish of 15^th is not that bad considering my lack of experience!”

Sean and most of the rest of the Formula 3 field will stay at the Red Bull Ring for two days of testing this week, and then there is a big gap until the next race – the prestigious non-championship Masters of F3 at the Dutch circuit of Zandvoort on 7^th July.