Callum Holland showed few nerves as he took to the wheel of a Formula 3 machine for the first time around Germany's Eurospeedway Lausitz, defying an electrical problem to post the quickest time of the day.
What's more, this performance came despite the 17-year-old former karter giving away much in terms of both age and experience to his three fellow competitors on the day, while the aforementioned electrical gremlins cost him as much as 25 laps' practice in the morning session.
Looking seriously at a move into the German ATS Formula 3 Cup next year – which has in the past produced stars of the calibre of seven-time
Formula 1 World Champion
Michael Schumacher and ‘King of Le Mans' Tom Kristensen – Holland admitted his outing with Leipert Motorsport had whetted his appetite for more.
“It was our first time in a car in Europe,” the Gloucestershire ace said, “and it looks positive. The team was good and the car was even better.
“Compared to the Formula
BMW it took me no time at all to set the top spot in the session times, considering the cold temperatures, part-worn tyres and my lack of seat time in single-seaters, let alone my zero knowledge of an F3 car and the Eurospeedway.
“I love the car – the extra power, brakes and aero made it so much more of a race car and it suits me more. I just found it natural to drive; I was expecting to take all day to get used to it, but within six laps it was just another race car that I needed to dial my style into, and do my job for the team. I hope I have impressed them as much I was impressed with them and the car.”
