On the pace in Formula 3.5 V8
22-10-15
At last the 2016 season is starting for me. This time last year I was in the middle of a massive run of race weekends in Formula Renault.
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I’m just on my way back from Jerez after a great two-day test in Formula 3.5 V8. Many of us stayed on in Andalusia after the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup final round at the weekend, and I had two fantastic days in the F3.5 V8 car with Strakka Racing – the same car that Tio Ellinas drove to race victories this year.
On the first day I was fourth in the morning and second in the afternoon, and on the second day I was fourth again in the morning. I was only 11th in the afternoon but that’s because we didn’t run new tyres, as my old Formula Renault 2.0 team-mate Jack Aitken and I had to leave Jerez early to get back to Britain for two days of McLaren Autosport BRDC Award assessments.
The F3.5 V8 car was mega, it was really nice to jump in and feel the power. The extra braking and downforce compared to what I’m used to were really impressive. We had some good benchmarks as well – Matthieu Vaxiviere was testing and he was runner-up in the series this year – so I was happy with the pace.
I did some races with Strakka in Formula Renault 2.0 last year so it was nice to be back with them. The boys and girls there are a great bunch of people and the team did a fantastic job over the two days. In a weird way it was nice to be back with an English team again – they make you great cups of tea too!
‘I was very happy with my position in the sessions. I felt I could have been quickest on the first afternoon but got compromised in the last corner, but things like that happen to everyone so it’s all give and take.’
I’ll be back in the Formula 3.5 V8 car for another test at Motorland Aragon. I’ve got a half-day as a prize for finishing runner-up this year in Formula Renault ALPS, and hopefully we’ll do the rest of the two-day test.
Now it’s Silverstone for the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award tests. I can’t wait! The Formula 2 car is a real animal to muscle round, the McLaren GT car will be great too, but the DTM Mercedes is the one I’m really looking forward to – it’s like a ballerina-point-shoes kind of car, absolutely mega to drive!
