León aiming for Feature glory as momentum continues to build

Van Amersfoort Racing’s Noel León has been on quite the run of form after the opening flyaway rounds in 2024. The Mexican driver has missed points in just three of the last 10 races, a stint that includes two Sprint Race podiums.

After finishing P2 in the Silverstone Sprint most recently, León says he is ready to make his mark on Sundays as he continues to build on his performances as the season goes on.

“I’ve been super happy with the pace we’ve been showing across the triple header,” he said ahead of the weekend in Budapest. “To be honest, Barcelona was ok, Red Bull Ring was really good but in Qualifying, we missed out in the last run but then in the races, we were coming back really fast, so super happy with the pace.

“Silverstone Qualifying was also really strong. In the end, I didn’t get the lap in but a podium in the Sprint Race and battling for the top three spots in the Feature, I’m super happy with the progress that we’ve been making.

“I know that in the Sprint Races we are really showing our pace. In Barcelona, I was P6 and that wasn’t because I was starting in the reverse grid positions. I went from P13 and made up the places to be P6. So, I’m really hoping to have a good result in the Feature Race now, because that’s what I’m missing.

“At the moment, I’m having good results on Saturdays, but I need good ones on Sunday too, that will be the main target. But of course, we have to qualify in the top 12 and fight at the front in both races. Let’s see what we can do, I’m really confident in the package we have so we’re looking forward to it.”

Drivers and teams alike will be put to the toughest of tests this weekend around the Hungaroring, with a heatwave set to push temperatures into the 30-degree range for most of the race weekend.

The Van Amersfoort driver is hopeful that it could play into his advantage, with his prior experience of racing in similar climatic conditions.

READ MORE: WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Contenders, tyres and temperatures

He says that tyres will play the biggest role though, with those that are able to keep on top of the Hard Pirelli compound the best rewarded in the end.

“Coming into Budapest, we know it’s going to be a tough track on tyres, so it’s going to be important to manage them. Qualifying will be super important as well here.

“The heat is one of the toughest things, but I’m used to it because it’s like this at home for me. I wouldn’t say I have an advantage, but I’m used to racing like this.

“The main thing this weekend will be the tyres. Last year we saw it was high deg, but this year we have a step harder compound of tyres. So, we need to see but I think that will be the main thing – how to manage the tyres in both races.

“It’s a tight track, it’s like a karting track but for Formula cars. It’s a fun one, difficult to overtake but with the deg that we have here, the last 10 laps can get quite tricky.”

With the final rounds of the 2024 campaign coming up fast, making an impact counts more than ever, and León appears to be finding his feet in F3 at the right time.

Heading into the pre-penultimate round of the season, the Mexican is keen to make sure the team get the details right that he says have been the reason why earlier success hasn’t arrived.

READ MORE: What the Statistics say about our 2024 season so far

“It was nice to get a week off to recover and reset mentally to come back here at the Hungaroring and to be at my strongest. I think we have a good package so I have high hopes for the race, and I’m really excited for what we can do.

“Of course, it’s my rookie season but it was just that things weren’t going as they should be at the beginning of the season. We were missing a bit here and there, making errors both myself and the team and in this Championship, it’s so competitive that if you’re missing one part, the result doesn’t come.”

“We’ve been working really hard on that and there’s still a lot of improvement to go but we are super happy with the way that we’re working so let’s see what we can do.”