Tatiana Calderón returns to GP3 Series action this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps after a four-week summer break, aiming for more points after scoring her first at Hockenheim last month.
Having recharging her batteries in her native Bogota, Colombia since her breakthrough outing in Germany, the 23-year-old arrives at the legendary Belgian Grand Prix venue refreshed and ready to contend for more points finishes with her Arden International team.
The 7.004-km Spa layout ranks firmly among Tatiana’s favourites, and has treated her kindly in the past. In 2014, it was the scene of her best finish of her three-year stint in the FIA European F3 championship (fifth place), while the following season she became the first female driver to lead a race in the series as she surged to the head of the pack in mixed conditions.
Carrying the momentum from her superb charge from the back of the field to finish 10th during the first race at Hockenheim, which she followed up with a season-best ninth place in the second race, Tatiana is a strong position to enjoy her best GP3 outing yet – especially as the soft compound Pirelli tyre on offer in Belgium is likely to make tyre management key to a successful weekend.
Tatiana Calderón: “We had our first points at the last round in Hockenheim, so to go into the summer break with that great feeling was special. Now I’m really looking forward to racing at Spa, which is one of my favourite circuits, and one where I’ve historically been quite strong – It has a certain flow, and you need to be patient and know where to attack to be quick there. Also the weather is unpredictable, so you need to be prepared for everything. We have the soft compound tyre available, we’ll have a lot of degradation if it’s dry, and I’ve always been quite good at managing the tyres. I have a lot of confidence and I feel really well after the break, so hopefully we can score more points, be consistent, and get in the top eight to score in both races.”
SPA TIMETABLE (all times CET and subject to change)
Friday 26 July Practice – 1750
Saturday 27 July Qualifying – 0945 Race 1 – 1715
Sunday 28 July Race 2 – 0915
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