Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, 18tu July 2014 - One month after racing at the challenging Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium, Sean Gelael returns there for some more action.
Although he is driving his usual Jagonya Ayam with Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen, the 17-year-old Indonesian talent is not competing this time in his regular FIA Formula 3 European Championship. This time, he is taking on the competitors in the British Formula 3 Championship.
Sean has happy memories of his time in British Formula 3 from 2013, when he finished eighth in the championship and claimed three podium finishes out of the 12 races. Also, he claimed a fastest lap – at Spa.
The outing is intended to further boost the experience of Gelael, who has had less time in international motorsport than nearly all his rivals. It will also put him nicely in the groove for the European Formula 3 rounds at the Red Bull Ring and the Nurburgring, which follow immediately afterwards.
With strong points finishes under his belt in European Formula 3 – including a best result of sixth at the Norisring – Sean will be gunning for podium finishes at Spa, which at seven kilometres ranks as the longest circuit used in F3 competition around the world.
Even though British Formula 3 is a national series, it features strong competition from an international field of drivers for the Spa round, which is its only foreign visit of the season. Gelael will face opposition not only from the UK and Western Europe, but also from Russia, the UAE, the USA, Malaysia and a very strong contingent of Chinese drivers.
Also, he will have to re-adapt to the Cooper tyres that are used in the British F3 Championship and are significantly different to the Hankooks used in European F3. Although you would not feel much difference on your road car by using a different brand, in motor racing, where the outer limits of grip are being explored at every corner, it completely transforms the behaviour of the car.
“I am not underestimating the challenge,” said Sean. “Everyone regards European Formula 3 as the toughest championship in the world on the road to Formula 1, but there are strong drivers in every series. I want to do my best and that should put me in a competitive position. And it would be really nice to do well because that would put me on a high going into the next European F3 rounds.”
With the Formula 3 races supporting the famous Spa 24 Hours – which runs from Saturday afternoon through to Sunday – that means that the action is moved one day forward from usual. Gelael will be contesting the first two races on Friday 25th July, with the third and final race on Saturday 26th July.(ms/arl)
