Written by Vyas Ponnuri
Formula 3 drivers are abuzz heading into the Silverstone weekend, with drivers looking to build on their campaigns as the series starts to hit home stretch, heading into the final third of the 2024 season.
The mighty, fearsome, high speed Silverstone circuit is set to play host to plenty of racing action all weekend, with as many as 72 drivers set to take to the track for three consecutive days. Among these are 30 young Formula 3 racers, hungry to prove their worthiness of stepping up to the big leagues in the future.
With the weekend gradually dawning upon us, ART racer Nikola Tsolov and MP Motorsport racer Tim Tramnitz spoke about the difference driver academies have made in their careers so far, while Rodin Motorsport's Callum Voisin speaks about his first Formula 3 weekend at home.
Voisin on GB3 experience of Silverstone aiding his charge this weekend
Rodin Motorsport's Callum Voisin enters this weekend for his first home race as a Formula 3 driver. Voisin, like many, also has prior experience of racing at Silverstone, having raced at the circuit during his title-winning GB3 season in 2023.
Having transitioned into Formula 3 this year, Voisin believes he may not have as big an advantage over the rest, as they've raced at the esteemed British circuit in junior racing series.
"It's not necessary I'd have a very big advantage (over the others)," Voisin told DIVEBOMB. "Everywhere else we went (for example - Imola), they had the advantage, now coming into Silverstone we have the advantage," he joked.
Voisin hasn't had the brightest of seasons for a struggling Rodin outfit, the reigning GB3 champion yet to open his account as the field heads into Silverstone, while teammate Joseph Loake has eight points to his name this season, as a result of qualifying in the top ten at Monaco.
Will Voisin be able to channel up his form from GB3 in 2023 and finally open his account in 2024, and make his home race one to remember? Only time will tell.
Tsolov, Tramnitz express gratitude, speak about being in a driver academy
Every junior driver dreams and yearns of being sponsored by a driver academy as they make their way up the FIA Global Pathway from karts to Formula One. The exposure and development for any driver at such a young age can prepare them for the future, and enhance their performances in the present.
A third of the Formula 3 grid race with liveries of Formula One teams on their cars. Three Red Bull juniors race in the 2024 Formula 3 season, namely Prema Racing's Arvid Lindblad, Campos' Ollie Goethe, and MP Motorsport's Tim Tramnitz.
Lindblad's teammate Gabriele Mini, ART racer Nikola Tsolov and VAR Racing's Sophia Floersch constitute Alpine's driver academy on the grid, while Tramnitz's teammate Alex Dunne and Hitech's Martinius Stenshorne were inducted into the McLaren Driver Academy earlier this season.
The third Prema of Dino Beganovic is a Ferrari junior, while championship leader Luke Browning sports a Williams-liveried Hitech race car, as a result of his affiliation with the Grove-based outfit.
These names have earned lucrative spots on driver academies as a result of their talent in junior series being spotted at a relatively young age, and benefit from the facilities of their respective Formula One teams, as well as exposure to senior personnel along the road to Formula One.
As Red Bull junior Tramnitz would respond to DIVEBOMB's question on driver academies:
"It's not just in terms of facilities such as sim (simulator) work. You can almost takeaway something useful from every single meeting. (I am) incredibly grateful for this opportunity," recounted the MP Motorsport driver.
Tsolov was quick to back up his German compatriot. "Like Tim (Tramnitz) said, when you're in a driver academy, you're connected to the F1 world," the Bulgarian spoke, referring to the sheer exposure the drivers get, as part of a driver academy.
Formula 3 heads into its final stretch of races as the paddock reaches the popular Silverstone circuit, with drivers expected to turn it up to the maximum from hereon, having learnt plenty about the cars and their handling up until now. You do not want to miss this weekend and the final trio in tow, as the championship battle heats up towards the business end of the season.