American racer Cameron Das looks to build on his impressive performance in the opening races of BRDC British Formula Three Championship as the second round of the 2017 season takes place at Rockingham this weekend. Rookie Das secured a brilliant pole position, his first in the series, and drove to a superb podium finish; the strong haul of points gained as a result see him currently sitting third overall in the championship standings.
Reigning US Formula Four Champion Das made an impression the first time he hit the track last time out at Oulton Park. Strong and consistent pace in testing straight out of the blocks followed by a maiden pole position later led to him claiming his very first podium position in the championship – anticipated to be the first of many in the British series.
Rockingham, a track at which the young American has previously tested, sees him take to a circuit with multiple challenges lying in wait this weekend for the entire BRDC British Formula Three grid. The circuit, known for its distinct banking as the field head in to the first corner, features an anti-clockwise configuration which, as the only such circuit on the 2017 calendar, is a technically tricky prospect ahead.
However Das has been preparing well for the weekend and said of the circuit, “Rockingham is a tough track physically but I’ve made massive improvements in the gym specifically with this weekend in mind. The track has a wide range of corners that remind me of the “ROVALS” back in the States. The Carlin car is well suited for the range of corners at Rockingham, so it should be a successful weekend.”
Currently sitting in third position in the overall standings, 17 year old Das has already proven his raw speed in style over the course of the first of eight rounds. With three races nicely under his belt, and a fantastic haul of points, Das feels confident as he looks ahead to a day of testing on Friday before qualifying and three races on Saturday and Sunday.
Speaking of the upcoming weekend he added, “The complications that come with the first race weekend in a new car, championship and country are in the past, and I’m ready to put on a strong performance at Rockingham. The championship is really competitive which is exactly what I was looking for and I felt I was more competitive during the first weekend than I might have expected a few months ago. The Carlin crew have worked hard to bring me up to speed and it’s also good to have two strong team mates who make my job a little more difficult and push me harder; I think achieving the pole position at Oulton Park was proof of this. Overall I’m feeling very confident going into this weekend.”
Das will be back out in his Tatuus-Cosworth Carlin car on Friday from 9am as he looks to build on his impressive form from both pre-season testing and the first round at Oulton Park.