Chris Dittmann Racing [CDR] secured its first wins of the season in F3 Cup as team owner Chris Dittmann claimed two victories from three Snetterton races.
On a weekend of mixed conditions, 2012 champion Dittmann stepped in for the absent Phillip Jeans and began by claiming a front-row start in qualifying. Cian Carey lined up directly behind the second-placed Dittmann in fourth, with returnee Gino Ussi 10th and Peter Venn 13th.
It was almost a CDR 1-2 in the opener as both Dittmann and Carey opted for wets on a drying track while those around them pitted for slicks before the start. They couldn’t quite hold off the pack, though, losing the lead on lap 10 of the 13-lap race. Both held on for top-six finishes, with Dittmann heading Carey in fifth and sixth respectively. Ussi, back racing to raise awareness for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, battled into the top six before his wet tyres dropped him to ninth. Venn ran as high as fourth before slipping behind the slick-shod drivers to 10th.
Race two saw Dittmann dominate, a superb start from third helping him set up a fine pass for the lead into turn one. He stretched that lead in the difficult damp conditions to some 14 seconds to claim his first win in F3 Cup since 2012. He completed the set with the race’s fastest lap, more than half a second quicker than anyone else could manage. Carey went one better than in race one to claim fifth and more strong points for the drivers’ and teams’ championships. Ussi came up just 0.2sec shy of a top-six finish in seventh, and Venn just missed out on a top 10 finish in 11th before the race was brought to an early conclusion due to multiple cars spinning off circuit.
Dittmann’s dominant double was complete in race three, breaking away from the chasing pack to build a strong and unassailable lead. He backed up his victory with another fastest lap and a new lap record – the second for CDR in as many F3 Cup race weekends. A deserved Sunoco Driver of the Weekend Award capped off his performance. Carey’s impressive F3 Cup form continued, the Irishman claiming fourth in his Dallara F311. Ussi was rewarded with a top-six finish on his return in sixth place, while Peter Venn’s staunch defence helped him hold onto 11th.
Dittmann said: “It was a bit of a shock to be back in the car. Phillip [Jeans] had work commitments so kindly offered the car to me, and to come back with a win is great for me and great for the team.
“Conditions were really tricky all weekend, we opted for wets in the first but unfortunately that gamble didn’t pay off. The guys did great though, no mishaps, no accidents and that is a feat in itself when conditions are so tough.
“It’s strong points for the championship and good to show what our cars can do. I’m sure this won’t be our last wins of the year. We had a podium in British F3 recently and now this so I’m delighted.”
