MSV Formula 3 Racing Results : 2010

Donington | Race 3 | 02/04/2011 | 3th Place

Donington | Race 3 | 03/04/2011 | 2nd Place

Donington 2011

For the last race at Snetterton, Dave stalled on the grid and the starter motor went non operational. A replacement starter did not cure the problem, and it was found that that the starter ring gear had broken and embedded itself in the gearbox casing. The engine has an aluminium flywheel with a separate ring gear. Dave got lots of offers of help from competitors, but in the end, had to order a new steel flywheel from engine builder Spiess in Germany. This arrived just in time to ready the car for Donington.

This holdup meant that the team would not be able to test at the circuit before the meeting. This put Karaskas in the situation of having to play catch up. However, in qualifying Dave set the fifth fastest lap time. Aaron Steele got pole with Louis Hamilton Smith in second. Just before the first of two F3 races a quick rain shower left the track damp and greasy, but not wet enough for rain tyres. On the warm up lap Aaron Steele spun when his engine spluttered. Later in the lap Karaskas was also caught out by the tricky conditions and spun to a halt. By the time he recovered all the cars were formed up on the grid, so he had to join the grid in last place. At the start, poleman Steele pulled off with loss of power. Dave made a good start; passing quite a few cars off the line, later in the lap he got by Richard Purcell going into Macleans. The safety car out at the end of lap one to allow marshals to clear Steele's stricken car. When the safety car came in, Karaskas accelerated through the chicane but the two cars in front of him slowed dramatically, leaving Dave no choice but to pass them into 3rd place. Karaskas was passed by Richard Purcell at Red gate. Richard spun at the same corner the following lap. Rain came and went and the grip levels changed with each lap. Dave was however able to pull out a lead to maintain a safe third place to the end. The race was won by Louis Hamilton Smith with Chris Needham in second. Class 'B' was won by James Ledamun.

A heavy rain shower left the track wet and everyone except poleman Louis Hamilton Smith, started on wet tyres. Karaskas passed the slick shod polesitter into 3rd place. Then coming out of the first corner Stuart Wiltshire spun, promoting Dave to second place. He was able to latch onto the rear of leader Chris Needham. After 4 laps the safety car again came out to allow Wiltshire's car to be recovered. The race ultimately had to be red flagged. At the restart Karaskas again set out to pass Needham. He was able to carry more speed into and out of the corners. Several times he was able to get down the inside coming out of coppice and pass along the straight, only to have Needham power past him. His six speed sequential gearbox allowing him to accelerate faster than Dave's five speed ‘H' pattern gearbox. Karaskas was soon trying too hard and had a couple of sideways moments and dropped back into the clutches of the following pack, forcing him to drive defensively, which allowed Needham to get away. The track was now drying and Louis Hamilton Smith started moving through the midfield. He was able to pass Dave on the penultimate lap at Redgate, but then outbraked himself at Coppice, allowing Dave back through into second for the finish, 3rd place went to Neil Harrison. James Ledamun again won class 'B'. The next MSV F3 Cup race is at Snetterton on the 300 circuit on May 2nd.