I’d had other options aside from F3 and testing a GP2 car before Christmas was a great experience, but at that stage it was a bit too early. In the last few years I haven’t had much track time and I could feel that that track time was missing when I ran in the GP2 car. Then my next two possibilities were World Series and F3. The way I saw it, F3 – in my opinion – is just as competitive and F3 gives you more running so as a driver you develop more in F3 because you spend so much time in the car, developing it and working on different components, which is something you don’t get in the World Series.
The chance to join Carlin also played a big part. They have won the series three times in five years and it was a big factor in my decision. I felt that coming here would help me to progress most as a driver and would make people notice me more while also giving me the chance to achieve big things. I felt Carlin was the best place for me to achieve that and I think that I have been proved right so far this year and now we need to keep the momentum going which should lead us to my aim of a top three finish in the championship.
Before I go racing again I’m heading off to Budapest to compete in a football charity match with some of the
F1 drivers and it is an experience I am looking forward to as I enjoy playing football a lot. I’m like a little kid who enjoys playing and we get the chance to play for charity which is a good thing. I think we are expecting a crowd of 35,000 which is fantastic and the whole atmosphere is great. In a racing car you spend all the time by yourself and while you see and appreciate the crowds, it isn’t in the same way as you do during a football match.
