Han var raskest på treningen. Måtte bryte første løp, men deretter tok Dennis Hauger en 6. og en 3. plass i de tre finalene i det britiske formel 4-mesterskapet på Thruxton. Med andre ord oppturer og nedturer for Dennis og landslagstrener Fredrik Brenna Lund i helgen.
Pressemelding fra Red Bull Jr. Team:
#33 Jack Doohan (AUS – Arden)
Qualifying 1: 3rd – Race 1 Grid: 2nd – Race 1 Result: 4th
Reverse Race 2 Grid: 2nd – Race 2 Result: 9th
Qualifying 2nd time: 2nd – Race 3 Grid 2nd – Race 3 Result: 1st
British F4 Championship position: 3rd – 101 points – after 9 of 30 races (1st Rookie)
#24 Dennis Hauger (NOR – Arden)
Qualifying 1: 1st – Race 1 Grid: 1st – Race 1 Result: DNF (Incident)
Reverse Race 2 Grid: 12th – Race 2 Result: 6th
Qualifying 2nd time: 1st – Race 3 Grid 1st – Race 3 Result: 3rd
British F4 Championship position: 6th – 74 points – after 9 of 30 races (2nd Rookie)
Jack Doohan took his maiden win and fellow Red Bull Junior Dennis Hauger again came so close to his in the third weekend of British F4 Championship action at Thruxton. The Arden drivers were both in impressive form, pole man Hauger only lost victory in Race 1 thanks to an incident on the last lap.
“Yes it was a pretty good weekend,” explained 15-year-old Australian Doohan with his usual understatement. “I’m happy with the win certainly. Of course we could still do better. I had an incident with Dennis in Race 1, got spun around and had to come back from last. In Race 2 we were leading and the exhaust broke on the last lap.”
“It all came together in Race 3 though, Dennis was in front for a few laps by I kept the pressure on him and he made a mistake, got wide and I got the run on him down the next straight.” Once Doohan was in front he pulled away leaving an intense battle in his ever longer wake, finally winning by the best part of seven seconds.
Quick from Day 1
“It was good, we had really good pace from the start of the weekend,” enthused Doohan who was four tenths faster than anyone else in Free Practice. “I got a good tow and was very happy with the car. For qualifying we decided to save a couple of tyres for the races and I didn’t get a tow but that’s OK.”
Having moved up to third in the title chase Doohan isn’t resting. “Simmons is in his third year and Jewiss raced last year so I just have to keep learning, if I do my job well there is no reason I can’t go after them,” he concluded.
Hauger only short on luck
Yes it’s a bit frustrating to lose that win again,” explained the 15-year-old Norwegian who twice sat on pole. “But I learnt so much this weekend and I am sure it is going to come.»
“That last race was a lot of fun. Jack won, congratulations to him. We were fighting like mad behind him and he got away. It really was a good lesson in racing for me and that’s going to help at the next rounds.”
“It was a shame about Race 1 though because really I had it won until the last corner on the last lap and the guy just turned in on me under braking and put me in the wall.»
That put me on the back of the grid for Race 2 plus the car wasn’t quite right so though I made up six positions I could only get through to sixth. Still that was some points and the car was good in the last race.”
“I feel a bit frustrated as I could have had two wins by now but we know that the speed is there, I’m learning and I’ve got to go after that win next time and hopefully get it done.”