The second round of the new-for-2017 FRD LMP3 Series Championship took place last weekend (28-30 July, 2017) at Shanghai International Circuit.
While Eurasia Motorsport were busy winning at Zhuhai in the Formula Masters Series, the team also fielded two LMP3 entries at Shanghai with Martin Cao and Garnet Patterson at the wheel of the #3 Ligier, Julio Acosta and Dan Wells driving the #91.
The opening race saw Patterson start from fourth position, gaining a position to run third before handing over to Cao. With Cao now reclassified as a gold driver, the team took an additional ten second success penalty in the pits, dropping Cao to seventh. Over in the #91, the duo of Acosta and Wells ran as high as fourth before dropping down and finishing ninth overall at the chequered flag.
The main race on Sunday saw both cars made strong starts with Cao in third and Wells in fourth. They both maintained those positions until Cao handed over to Patterson, but the mandated longer pit stop time again meant we dropped down to eighth position.
Patterson fought back and looked set for a fourth position, or even a third, but a spin cost him 15 seconds, dropping him behind Acosta who in turn held on to finish in sixth position.
The Eurasia team were pleased with the pace of both cars, especially as they were closing in on the cars in fourth and fifth positions.
“Without the spin and the mandated longer stops, for sure we could have been third – if not second. It makes it a lot harder for us to get the podiums we are seeking,” stated team principal Mark Goddard.
“Garnet Patterson drove a fantastic race anyway in what really is the most competitive LMP3 grid in the world at the moment with Platinum, Gold and Silver drivers. Eurasia Motorsport is proud to be part of a series that clearly has a bright future.”
The FRD LMP3 Series returns to the same venue in Shanghai for the next round on 27 August.
