James Cole, Cooper Tires British Formula 3 National class leader, celebrated more success in the championship at Hockenheim last weekend. Two class wins were the highlights for Cole, with the added achievement of posting an overall top ten finish in the first race, one of the goals which Cole had set himself at the start of the season.
“I’ve had the best weekend of the season so far,” said Cole. “I think I’ve found my stride with my T-Sport National class car and I’m also proving my ability to take the challenge to some of the International class contenders as well. Beating the opposition in the National Class is always the first goal, but after that the aim is to push for the best overall finish position. Despite our car being older and less sophisticated aerodynamically, I’m pleased to have been pacing in the top ten this weekend.”
It was Cole’s first visit to the German Formula One circuit, with the chance to learn one of the classic European race venues which the young driver will undoubtedly visit many times in his career over the coming years. The practice session at the start of the weekend was Cole’s only opportunity to lap the track without the pressure of qualifying or racing and he used the time effectively, building his experience in preparation for the rest of the weekend.
His hard work paid off with fastest lap time in the qualifying session to put him on class pole for the first of the three British F3 races, with the second race grid positions taken from race one results. For the third race team mate and National class rival Idafar Menasheh pipped Cole to pole honours with the second best qualifying lap time of the session.
Cole led the National Class battle for all but two corners of the first race, with the Merseysider only being challenged by Menasheh on lap 13, with his rival taking him briefly, before Cole quickly retook the advantage and then romped home, not only taking his class win, but taking his first overall top ten finish of the season with ninth place.
In the second race of the weekend Cole started in ninth place, well ahead of his team mate and title rival. He capitalised on this strong starting position to keep himself ahead in the National class title race as well as having the chance to pit his racing skills against the International class competitors. Cole was able to hold his own with many of these racers and took his second victory of the weekend, his seventh win of the season.
In the third race Cole was on course for a third victory, leading Menasheh for much of the race, until the Merseyside driver dropped back a few places. Taking two of the three wins on offer this weekend and winning seven races to Menasheh’s five, Cole’s championship points lead has been eroded with only eight points separating the two drivers.
Cole is unperturbed saying, “I just need to keep doing what I’m doing and dominating each race weekend. The pressure is on each time I’m out in the car, but I can cope with this and just relish each race weekend and the chance to go out there and show I have the ability to fight hard, race hard and, ultimately, win.”
James Cole, Cooper Tires British Formula 3 National class leader, celebrated more success in the championship at Hockenheim last weekend. Two class wins were the highlights for Cole, with the added achievement of posting an overall top ten finish in the first race, one of the goals which Cole had set himself at the start of the season.