Carlin’s Calado collects Challenge bank holiday bonanza

Chequered flag rather than chequered history for British F3’s James Calado on Silverstone’s new circuit.

Blistering the bank holiday weather was not, but the racing in the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series at Silverstone’s new Arena Grand Prix circuit was scorching.

It meant “all change” in the Sunoco Rolex 24 At Daytona Challenge standings following victories in Rounds 4 and 6 – the reverse-grid middle race is not counted in the challenge – for Brit James Calado.

Calado secured the maximum average of 100 points from the two rounds as well as a further 20 points for setting the fastest lap of 1:54.731 in Race 1’s second lap and 40 points for pole in both races. This gives him total challenge points of 71.25, putting the Worcestershire wunderkind in 11^th place overall.

One of the idiosyncrasies of the Sunoco Daytona Challenge points system is that a driver’s average points drop after each round. Last year’s winner – the irrepressible Derek Johnston, who has added after-dinner speaking to his list of talents – won the challenge with a total average tally of 77.50.

As if to prove this slight conundrum, Fortec’s Oli Webb, who was higher in the standings than Calado and came second in both races, retains a higher position and average tally – sixth and 80 points – than the weekend’s winner, helped in part by setting the fastest lap of 1:55.027 in Lap 4.

Previous challenge leader – and Carlin teammate – Jean-Eric Vergne saw a small reversal of fortune, coming fourth in Race 1 and sixth (fifth in the challenge points table because invitational driver Alexander Sims finished the race in fourth) in Race 2.

Vergne is now fourth on 87.50 average points down from his earlier, first-place 140 in the Sunoco Daytona Challenge standings, coming after British GT drivers Matt Griffin, Duncan Cameron and Allan Simonsen.

A mention, too, for Räikkönen Robertson Racing’s Daisuke Nakajima, who achieved third place in Rounds 4 and 5 before slipping somewhat to 21^st in Round 6, but was crowned Sunoco Driver of the Weekend.

Standings will, of course, change after the next rounds in all competing series – Radical UK Cup, SPEED Series and British GT as well  as British F3.

There is, as the man said, everything to play for ahead of the next Sunoco Rolex 24 At Daytona Challenge champ being crowned and he – perhaps next year will see the first female driver in the challenge – dashes off to Daytona International Speedway to drive a DP.

Click here for full Sunoco Daytona Challenge standings and register at www.twitter.com/RacingAAOC for updates.

CAPTION: Carlin Racing's James Calado takes his second chequered flag of the weekend in the British F3 at Silverstone.