Round 9 Post Qualifying Press Conference

FIA Formula 3: Hello and welcome to the Press Conference of the Top 3 qualifiers here in Budapest, for the FIA Formula 3 Feature Race. In third place is Tuukka Taponen for ART Grand Prix, in second is Mari Boya from Campos and on pole position is Rafael Câmara for TRIDENT. Rafa, congratulations your fifth pole position of the season but your first one since Spain, just talk us through that final lap.

Rafael Câmara: Yeah very happy to be in this position. A very tricky session where basically I thought, when I went into the Pit Lane, I thought it was over. After there was that final lap, it was very important, just very happy. Happy with the result in the end, it was very important for the Championship. Still a lot of things to go, I will just focus to make sure that I do good races.

FIA Formula 3: You were just eight thousands of a second clear of Mari at the end of that one and it all came at the final sector of that final lap, did the laps just keep getting better and better?

Câmara: To be honest not really, as I had to basically do three or four warm-up laps because I didn’t go for the push lap when it was the right time. Then to be in sync with Campos we had to do two slow laps just to make sure I was not getting traffic during the lap. It was a bit tricky, we lost a bit of a peak of the tyres where we did a good warm-up and then didn’t use the tyre. It was very tricky to make sure the pressure was in the right place, tyres in the right temperature. But in the end we managed to save a good result. Just full focus now for the races.

FIA Formula 3: Speaking of those races, pole is another step closer to the title for you, Mari aside, the rest of your main competitors are outside the top 15 after todays qualifying session, will you be racing with that in mind?

Câmara: Of course, for the Championship it was good, the ones that are closest are Tim Tramnitz and Nikola Tsolov and they were a bit behind. Mari is still in the fight so at the end of the day I will just focus on myself, try to do a clean race. Whatever happens I will just try and maximise for my Championship. Just score good points and whatever will be the result, we never know how it will end. Even if we are there, we still need to fight in Monza and we are ready, whatever happens. In myself I will just try and keep it clean and focus on what I can do best.

FIA Formula 3: Thanks Rafa, Mari just eight thousands of a second away, could you feel that time getting away from you anywhere on that final lap?

Mari Boya: Yeah, as you said the last sector was not ideal, I know where I lost it I have already analysed that with the team and everything. But I can not be frustrated, I have had many bad Fridays this year and in my career. It is a good place not only for Sunday, I am 100% sure Saturday will be a long race, I know how to race at this track. I have experience and the team as well. I am looking forward to the race, I am really confident. For sure happy with the day and the job that Campos did.

FIA Formula 3: You mentioned previous Fridays there, you were at the sharp end throughout the session and that’s your best qualifying result throughout the season, is that an area you have been working on?

Boya: Yeah, except maybe at Spa, the last weeks have been really good. At Spa we know what happened, it was something outside the control of the team, and outside my control. On the last set of qualifying we had a little issue, but still already I was feeling that pole was possible. Then we come here and I did exactly the same job as there, since set 1 we were there in the fight. For sure I am feeling that this is one of my best moments of the year and maybe in my career. Just enjoying all the time on track. For sure I would love to have some more races in the Championship but it is what it is. Just enjoying what is left in the Championship and Monza for sure.

FIA Formula 3: Speaking of the Championship, is your target just to keep the title fight alive going into Monza or do you ignore all that?

Boya: If I were to focus on the Championship, I would be frustrated because we have had a lot of moments where the team and I, we were not in control and we lost a lot of points. I will just enjoy the races, I will enjoy all the time that I have and if we do the job that we think is right, I think it would be good. I will just go on and enjoy.

FIA Formula 3: Thanks Mari, Tuukka on to you, P3 today your best result of the season as well, just how please with that session are you?

Tuukka Taponen: It’s been a couple of weekends that have been very difficult for me and it’s been mainly the last set in qualifying. This time I was able to make a good lap on the last set and that’s all really what matters in the qualifying.

FIA Formula 3: I think it’s really the last three weekends that looked the most challenging, do you know what it is about that last set that has been troubling you, have you been working on that?

Taponen: Yeah I have been working. At the beginning of the season everything was going well and I was doing quite a good job, as well as the team. But then quite a lot of things went wrong in the last three weekends. I have not really been able to be with full confidence in that last set. Even if it has been looking good before that last set. When cars are getting lighter, the track is getting better, the last set is super important. This time I was able to do a good lap and put the car where it needs to be.

FIA Formula 3: As you say you put yourself in a good position for the weekend, what are your personal targets not just for here but also for Monza to finish the season?

Taponen: Keep doing what I did today. Qualify well so then the race will be also good. If you qualify outside that top 12 it will be a tough weekend.

FIA Formula 3: Congratulations, well done everyone.