Jack Doohan returns to FIA Formula 3 title fight with Spa victory
Jack Doohan has won his second race of the FIA Formula 3 season, taking out race two of a wet Spa weekend ahead of David Schumacher and Logan Sargeant.
Jack Doohan took his second victory of the FIA Formula 3 season at a wet Spa. (Formula Motorsport Limited)
Doohan led away confidently at the start with the threat of rain looming over the sodden track.
Sargeant was quickly up into third past Alexander Smolyar, who was punted wide into turn 1 and emerged in eighth.
The first sign of trouble came when Arthur Leclerc, already up three positions into tenth place, attempted to overtake around the outside of Johnathan Hoggard.
Hoggard, losing downforce as Leclerc drew alongside, spun out and had to wait for the entire field to pass before he could return to the race.
Matteo Nannini was the next to fall victim to the difficult conditions, spinning at the Bus Stop chicane.
He was unable to restart his car, bringing out the safety car.
Doohan's lead was in danger for the first time at the restart, but he sped away from the line as Schumacher and Sargeant went to battle behind him.
The green-flag running was short-lived, with Amaury Cordeel caught out in a incident at Eau Rouge.
The field scattered to avoid his stricken car, but Australian Calan Williams was unable to pull up in time, and the pair collided.
The safety car brought the field under control for the final three laps and led Doohan to his second race victory of the season.
Calan Williams was unable to avoid the stricken car of Amaury Cordeel. (Formula 1/Youtube)
"Drier conditions than this morning, and I have to say that visibility was a lot better from pole," said the Australian.
"I got a decent start, I wasn’t expecting it to be as good as it was, but I was happy with the getaway."
"From there, I was managing the rears because that is where I was quite quick early on."
“I didn’t want to be too high on the pressure and then the other guys come at me at the end, so decided to be quite conservative."
"But when the Safety Car came out, our tyre pressures could all lower again."
"Overall, I’m very happy. I would have preferred to win a full race and not finish behind the Safety Car, but I will take the points – game on for tomorrow."
Schumacher and Sargeant completed the podium, with championship leader Dennis Hauger taking the flag in ninth.
Hauger holds a steady hand on top of the Drivers' Championship with 154 points, but Doohan's victory brings him up to 108 points.
The Red Bull junior remains well in contention for the title fight ahead of his pole position for the final race of the weekend.
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