What wrong with BF3 drivers?

[Crash Test]

This is an excert from the results from the Croft BF3 race from motorsport.com. I've put the interesting bits ib bold
9th - No 6 - Andy Priaulx, Promatecme, Dallara F300 Renault, Gap: 27.874
10th - No 2 - Juan Manuel Lopez, Manor, Dallara F300 Mugen-Honda, Gap:
34.224
11th - No 61 - Gary Paffett, FGR, Dallara F398 Renault, 30:49.701
(Scholarship Class Winner)
12th - No 55 - Atsushi Katsumata, Meritus, Dallara F398 Toyota, Gap:
1:13.271
13th - No 54 - Craig Fleming, ME, Dallara F398 Mugen-Honda, Gap: 1 lap
14th - No 52 - Phillip Hopkins, PHM, Dallara F398 Spiess-Opel, Gap: 1 lap
15th - No 66 - Ryan Walker, Diamond, Dallara F398 Mugen-Honda, Gap: 1 lap
16th - No 56 - Marcel Romanio, Meritus, Dallara F398 Toyota, Gap: 1 lap
17th - No 77 - Mark Mayall, Diamond, Dallara F398 Mugen-Honda, Gap: 1 lap
18h - No 16 - Tor Sriachavanon, ADR, Dallara F300 Mugen-Honda, Gap: 1 lap

Not Classified:
No 51 - Christian Colombo, Rowan, Dallara F398 Mugen-Honda, Lap 22. Engine
failure.
No 17 - Martin O'Connell, Rowan, Dallara F300 Mugen-Honda, Lap 21,
Crashed.
No 5 - Matthew Davies, Promatecme, Dallara F300 Renault, Lap 17,
mechanical failure
No 3 - Narain Karthikeyan, Stewart, Dallara F300 Mugen-Honda, Lap 14,
stupidity
No 12 - Nicolas Kiesa, RC, Dallara F300 Spiess-Opel, Lap 7, Excitability
No 18 - Warren Carway, Rowan, Dallara F300 Mugen-Honda, Lap 2, Crashed

....i wish they did that on the results for all race series!!

[This message has been edited by Crash Test (edited 22 April 2000).]

[Lee Purnell]

Does any one know anything about Phillip Hopkins?
The name sound famillier. Did he use to race GTs??

[Super Tourer]

Lee. Re Philip Hopkins, I believe it is the one and the same F3 driver who had a big F3 crash a copule of years ago, went into GT's and had a big crash in that too (breaking his leg). Now he is back for more in F3

As for the F3 series, what is wrong with Protecme (Renault) are they awake. AP and MD set some good times in testing, yet were nowhere at Croft. Great choice by Jenson again ......

[Dan Friel]

Spot on about Hopkins....

He crashed that British GT Ultima at Camp and did his legs in. But do you remember when he raced Formula Fords at Combe??? That must have been a while ago.

I marshal with a guy who works at Bath Uni - and he helps out preparing his race car sometimes. He does things on a budget, but seems pretty talented.

[Lee Purnell]

I remember the crash, he broke both legs?
It was the day of the flying wheel. If I remember corrcetly, his wing failed on the dean straight, and he speared left, into the wall. It was a big crash.
I think he lives just outside Bristol, Avonmouth.
Dont worry, I am not a stalker or anything, i know someone who knows him

[Dan Friel]

Hopkins crash was pretty bad, I think his bodywork pulled off, took the wing with it - lost all downforce and bosh..... the skid marks went on a long way until reaching the marshal post on the inside..

Just seen that Andrew Kirkaldy is returning to the series, will he be competitive at last???

I see that Marc Hynes also tried the German F3 series out. Only managed to quailfy 18th and 22nd, and quickly pulled out of the race to stop the embarassment. This is the guy that beat Jenson Button fair and square only last year!!!! I don't think he even had a race engineer though...

Proves you need the right cash and preparation to do it properly...

[Super Tourer]

In my mind F3 has always been a bit clique where you always need to be in the right place at the right time to get anywhere.

At least it is now effectively one-make taking chassis choice out of the equation but now its down to the engine dilemma. Renault came in about 3 of years ago and were very quick, making Honda cough.

In true Renault style they never seem to capatalise on it and have been on the back foot ever since with Honda leading the way.

Plus only two or three teams at anyone time manage to be successfull, leaving 20 odd drivers scratching their heads wondering why they aren't making any progress.

I haven't seen a whole F3 race in the flesh for ages, the last one I saw was dire - have I missed anything.....

When the BF3 champion can't get a drive in a dustcart I guess that says something for how the series is viewed.

I've always thought of it as a career wrecker as opposed to breaker. JB aside where are our ex-F3 drivers now....(even Manning had to go to Japan to get noticed)

[Dan Friel]

Drivers from British F3....


D Coulthard
R Barrichello
D Hill
M Hakkinen
M Salo
M Brundle
N Mansell
A Senna....

Shall i go on??

F3 has got loads better over the last couple of years, and now you get a good 35 cars plus a good national class developing (although Pafett is stuffing everyone, due to good engine)..

I do remember when at Brands a couple of years ago, less than 100 people turned up and paid to get in...

[Dan Friel]

I meant 25 cars...

I agree that not many of the recent drivers have got through to top drives, but I think that's down to money and not being in the right palce at the right time.... Lets remember that us Brits do have our fair share of drivers in F1 and the likes of D Hill and J Button were lucky to get their chances..

The guys from France haven't been so lucky and there's bags of talent over there also..