Successful tests in Barcelona: Formula 3 debut approaching for HWA RACELAB

HWA RACELAB has taken the next step on the road to the team's first race in the FIA Formula 3 Championship. Drivers Bent Viscaal (NED), Jake Hughes (GBR) and Keyvan Andres (IRN) gained more valuable experience during the two-day test at Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. The outing in Spain was the second of three official test events for the German team, before the season gets underway in May.

  • HWA RACELAB drivers feature in the top ten of individual sessions on three occasions
  • Bent Viscaal: "The trend is definitely a positive one."
  • Jake Hughes: "We are already capable of performing at a very high level."
  • Thomas Strick: "We have seen that we can match the times at the front of the field."

Barcelona, 10th April 2019 – The official FIA Formula 3 tests, which took place at Circuit de Catalunya on Tuesday and Wednesday, represented a new challenge for HWA RACELAB and its three drivers: The conditions at the circuit in Barcelona were significantly more difficult than at the first tests, which were held at Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet in March. Multiple showers repeatedly soaked the track, meaning the teams frequently had to switch between slicks and wet tyres.

Jake Hughes completed 41 laps on a dry track on Tuesday morning. As in Le Castellet, he clocked the fourth-fastest time (1:33.199 min.) of the 30-strong field. Ahead of the afternoon session, a short but heavy shower resulted in a wet track, while rain also prevented fast lap times on Wednesday. Faced with a wet surface, the HWA RACELAB drivers were unable to match Hughes' fastest time over the course of the remaining test sessions. However, the Brit and team-mate Bent Viscaal did both finish in the top ten on Wednesday afternoon in sixth and seventh place respectively.

The third and final test is scheduled for next week (17th to 18th April) at the Hungaroring, before this season's FIA Formula 3 Championship kicks off in Barcelona from 10th to 12th May. HWA RACELAB is one of ten teams in the newly-formed series. Each team lines up with three cars. Featuring on the support programme to the Formula 1 World Championship, a total of 16 races will be held over the course of eight weekends.

Bent Viscaal (19, Netherlands, car number 10)
"We showed that we are on our way to finding a good set-up, particularly in the session on Wednesday afternoon. Sure, we have the odd issue, but we still have time to work on them before the start of the season. The trend is definitely a positive one."

Jake Hughes (24, Great Britain, car number 11)
"We carried on here where we left off at Circuit Paul Ricard. The opening race will also take place in Barcelona, so it was good to have a test here. I already know where I have to improve as a driver. The car is definitely capable of a fast lap, we have shown that. It is now all about ensuring that we are also among the front-runners on the long stints. We are aware that we still have a lot to learn, as a new team, but we are already capable of performing at a very high level."

Thomas Strick, Team Principal HWA RACELAB
"These were two very valuable days for us, particularly as the season-opener will also take place here. This gave our drivers the opportunity to get to know the circuit. The conditions, which alternated between a dry and wet surface, were not easy. However, the very same thing could happen to us again in the course of the season. As such, we are happy to learn from this experience. We have seen that we are capable of matching the times at the front of the field. That gives us a lot of hope looking ahead to the season. It is now important to be just as focussed in the final tests next week, and to prepare systematically for the opening weekend."

Results of the tests in Barcelona:

Tuesday morning:
1. Leonardo Pulcini  Hitech Grand Prix                     1:33.007
2. Jake Hughes        HWA RACELAB                          1:33.199
3. Bent Viscaal         HWA RACELAB                          1:33.870
4. Keyvan Andres     HWA RACELAB                          1:34.851

Tuesday afternoon:
1. Felipe Drugovich  Carlin Buzz Racing                    1:33.284
2. Jake Hughes        HWA RACELAB                           1:34.906
3. Bent Viscaal         HWA RACELAB                           1:34.955
4. Keyvan Andres     HWA RACELAB                           1:36.929

Wednesday morning:
1. Leonardo Pulcini  Hitech Grand Prix                      1:32.222
2. Bent Viscaal         HWA RACELAB                           1:33.296
3. Keyvan Andres     HWA RACELAB                           1:34.211
4. Jake Hughes        HWA RACELAB                           1:34.732

Wednesday afternoon:
1. Lirim Zendeli      Sauber Junior Team by Charouz  1:33.703
2. Jake Hughes     HWA RACELAB                              1:34.106
3. Bent Viscaal      HWA RACELAB                              1:34.108
4. Keyvan Andres  HWA RACELAB                              1:34.756

        

About HWA AG
HWA AG is an independent, 360° engineering specialist in the fields of automobile racing and high-performance cars. Formed in 1998 by Hans Werner Aufrecht, the company is based in Affalterbach (Germany) and employs roughly 300 highly-qualified members of staff. HWA AG offers all its products and services under the motto ENGINEERING SPEED: The company’s objective is to develop the best possible, high-quality solutions, in order to get its partners and customers to their destination quicker. The portfolio of services ranges from designing all vehicle components to assembling complete cars, together with the relevant logistics, after-sales and support services.

About HWA RACELAB
HWA RACELAB is HWA AG’s operations team in motorsport. It brings together experienced specialists in high-quality race engineering and the associated services, in pursuit of success on the motorsport scene. HWA RACELAB will enter Formula E as a new team in the 2018/19 season, adding a future-oriented string to HWA’s wealth of racetrack expertise. Furthermore, HWA RACELAB will race in the new, international FIA Formula 3 championship in 2019. With eleven Drivers’ titles and over 180 race wins as a works team for Mercedes-AMG in the DTM, the company is one of the most successful players in international motorsport. HWA RACELAB also draws on the company’s other core areas of expertise, such as the development, assembly and running of GT cars for customer racing, as well as the assembly of Formula 3 race engines.

 

Volker Glaser
Investor Relations/ Presse

tel:         + 49 (0) 7144 8717- 279
fax:        + 49 (0) 7144 8718- 111
email:   presse@hwaag.com

 

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