Liam Lawson heads into FIA Formula 3 Round 3 at Hungaroring this weekend, a track he is looking forward to having raced Rounds 1 and 2 at Spielberg the previous 2 weekends. Having achieved Race 2 win in Round 1, and currently standing 7th Overall- Lawson knows where his talent lies amongst most competitive grid in 2nd full F3 season.
Known for his composure under pressure, Liam not only achieved maiden win for his HiTech Grand Prix Team, but also sent message to all, objectives for F3 2020 season were to stand top of podium.
Given Lawson met number of challenges in Round 2- Race 1 ‘ended nine laps early due to a hazardous downpour of rain. With more than 25% of the race left to run, only half points will be awarded to the grid- Lawson 8th’.
And in Race 2: ‘Liam Lawson looked to have a handle on the conditions and eyed up Alex Peroni, but things got a little heated between the pair. Lawson made his move and the two tapped wheels. The overtake was clean, albeit aggressive, but the Kiwi wouldn’t have minded too much as the position was his’- plenty to focus on when Qualifying takes priority at Budapest tomorrow.
Taking leaf from his own book, Liam stays remarkably philosophical when ‘anything-happens-come-racing’. ‘”I think that the problem is track related for us. In Hungary it will be very different to Austria. It’s a place where the tyre is good for one lap and not afterwards so very different to the Red Bull Ring where we were going lap after lap and the tyre didn’t switch on'”.
‘”In Budapest it should suit us a bit more…. hopefully,” concluded the Hitech driver with a chuckle’.
Given all adjustments to racing with new tyre sizes, compounds and pit-lane timing, Lawson commands attention with his ability to pass and lead- holding total of most led laps so far: 37. A fact generated from early in his single-seater career when he won on debut every category he raced: Formula First, Formula Ford, Formula 4, Formula 3 Asia and the 2019 Toyota Racing Series where he also completed the series as Champion, the day before his seventeenth birthday.
If New Zealand has proud history of Motorsport icons to draw upon, it would be renowned Mitch Evans who was our first Kiwi to win, the 2012 GP3 Series- now re-Titled as F3 which paved a path for young talented drivers of Lawson and Marcus Armstrong to pursue. Praise and respect has to be given to any Kiwi driver who makes the ranks of Formula racing and Lawson along with Armstrong look all set to deliver top results.
No doubt, Liam will prove his worth at F3 Round 3 this weekend, Qualifying tomorrow, racing Saturday and Sunday.
Words: Sharon Cox.
Comments are closed.