Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography
Sebastian Alvarez believes he could have become the third driver to win all three races in a British Formula 4 weekend at Snetterton without a race two error.
The Double R Racing driver took pole for the first and third races, both of which he won by a comfortable margin. His winning margin in race three (14.086 seconds) was the largest in championship history.
In the reversed grid race two he came from sixth to fight for the lead with JHR Developments’ Josh Skelton until a trip through the gravel dropped both down the order. His recovery was then halted by a clash with his own team-mate Louis Foster.
“The pace was mega [in race two]. I should have easily won it,” Alvarez told Formula Scout.
“I was a bit too aggressive trying to overtake Skelton. Into Turn 1 down the inside he squeezed me a bit. I had no room to go, I just ended up running wide and lost a couple of positions.
“Managed to make my way back up to fourth I think, then I had contact with my team-mate and lost my front wing. It’s really a big shame. I was behind Skelton, he was defending, then Louis tried going around the outside. At the exit he kept going tighter and tighter, I tried to keep turning but I just understeered into him and lost my front wing.”
The various clashes and offs enabled Richardson Racing’s Luke Browning to take victory, until he was penalised for a jumped start.
“I think in that race I was the only one that overtook. Browning won from 10th, but he was really lucky as everyone crashed out and he just kept it clean.”
Alvarez planned to replicate his race one victory in the last race, having wasted an opportunity to reduce Zane Maloney’s championship lead in race two. The Carlin driver had failed to finish after a clash with Arden’s Bart Horsten.
“[The points lead] should have come down a bit. I saw in my mirrors that Maloney crashed, so I should have just been happy with second and kept the points. But I really wanted that win so I kept pushing.
“[It’s been] a really strong start for the second half of the season, so I’m really happy with that. Hopefully we can carry the momentum and minimise mistakes. I’m approaching it race-by-race, because it’s always nice to get a good result, but you always have to look at the long-term [too].”
Maloney carries a 54-point lead over Alvarez heading into the final four rounds of the season, which take place at Thruxton, Knockhill, Silverstone and Brands Hatch.