This weekend marks the penultimate round of the 2017 BRDC British Formula Three Championship for Cameron Das who will be looking to make the most of the three races on offer around the Snetterton circuit. Das has already competed at the Norfolk track once this season, taking a brilliant podium position, so heads in to the weekend knowing the circuit well and after six rounds sits in a strong fourth position overall in his Carlin-run Tatuus-Cosworth BRDC British F3 car.
In what is turning out to be a competitive 2017 season, rookie racer Das has already enjoyed success including victory in the series. In the championship order, the fight rages on with the American sitting fourth overall; proving just how close and competitive the racing action is, the difference between third and sixth is just 46 points with a huge tally still on offer over the next two rounds. This closeness means it’s all to play for as he looks to take the advantage over his competitors and close the gap to those ahead.
In a year full of excitement, rising racing star Das has already clinched one fantastic victory at Rockingham and a total of six strong podiums in just his first season in the Championship which has also marked his first year racing full time in Europe. As the reigning F4 US Champion, 17 year old Das has been using all of his racing experience to get to grips with a multitude of new and exciting challenges over the course of the year racing at some of the UK’s premier circuits.
This weekend the challenge returns to the three mile circuit of Snetterton; a notoriously difficult track to overtake on. With 13 turns it features a wide variety of challenges to enjoy – including a tricky hairpin, high speed corners and fast, technical sectors. As such, qualifying on Saturday morning will be ever important for Das as he aims to start the weekend off in the best possible way looking to add to his already brilliant tally of three pole positions.
Das said of his experience racing at the circuit previously, “Having been at Snetterton earlier in the year, we have a lot of data and important personal experience to make the race weekend go smoothly. The two days of testing before the weekend will be about fine tuning the car mostly because we’ve already developed a good baseline setup. Snetterton is a tough track to pass on so the primary focus for us has to be on qualifying well and going from there.”
Looking ahead to the weekend he added, “The goal is to win. The last weekend [Brands Hatch] was hindered a bit by weather conditions that I wasn’t yet accustomed to, but I now have loads more experience under my belt to put together a lights to flag victory at Snetterton. It’s important to be consistent, but also consistently at the top. The points are so close in the Championship fight so it is imperative to rack up as many as possible so that nothing desperate is required at Donignton in September for the final round.”
This weekend at Snetterton will feature two full days of testing on Thursday and Friday for Das to get back up to speed and work with his engineer ahead of qualifying on Saturday and three fast and furious races to look forward to over the course of the weekend.
As ever, the action can be followed live via the BRDC British Formula Three Championship Twitter feed: @BRDCBritishF3
Or by watching live timing: http://www.tsl-timing.com/event/173451