Hywel back on the pace at Rockingham — F3 Racing with Hywel Lloyd

Hywel back on the pace at Rockingham

Flying Welshman Hywel Lloyd was left fuming after his hopes of a first Formula Three podium finish were dashed by Austrian rival Walter Grubmuller at Rockingham.

Hywel was charging through the field in the first of the weekend’s two Formula Three International Championship races when he was forced off the track.

Lloyd had carved his way through to fifth place from 12th on the grid and was the fastest man on the circuit as he attempted to get past the Austrian.

As he drew level Grubmuller pulled across and Lloyd was sent spinning onto the grass and out of the race.

No damage was done and the incident forced Grubmuller to retire a couple of laps later but it was a frustrating start to the weekend for the 24-year-old Lloyd and his CF Racing team.

They had battled to fit a new engine in the car in the days ahead of the race and been rewarded with a much more competitive drive.

Only two other drivers were quicker than Lloyd on the day and Lloyd said: “I thought I was on for a podium finish in the first race until I made a mistake going for fourth and dropped back two places.

“I was fighting to get back my fifth spot and I got a run on Grubmuller and was alongside and he just kept squeezing me. I was on the grass and there was nowhere else for me to go but he kept coming across and we got contact and I spun off.

“It was up to him to give me a bit of room. I don’t expect him to let me through – we’re there to race – but you have to have some respect for each other. These things happen.”

CF Racing team manager Harry Lloyd, Hywel’s father, said: “Grubmuller should have given Hywel room.

“Hywel was the quickest car on the circuit at the time and he had a run at him but he obviously thought he wasn’t going to let someone from down the field past.

“The respect wasn’t there but next time it will be because he knows if he doesn’t let us past he won’t finish either but I don’t blame Hywel. He had to go for it."

Lloyd was ready for the second race of the day though when he again started from 12th on the grid but an error at the start cost him as he was left trailing.

Again though the new engine proved its worth and Lloyd fought through to ninth place and into the points and, more importantly, he again recorded the third fastest lap.

The week prior to Rockingham Lloyd and his team had been fitting a new Mugen-Honda engine from Sheffield-based Neil Brown Engineering.

The new unit is significantly lighter and more powerful than the old engine and it means that CF Racing are now competitive, according to Lloyd senior.

“The results don’t show it but it did go very well,” he said: “Now we feel we have the tools to do the job."

Pictured above, out of the shadows: Hywel gets some welcome shade thanks to team member Arwyn Owen.

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