Elite Motorsport to add further valuable experience in British F3 02.07.2021: Five top-eight placings achieved in team’sonly second single-seater event Elite Motorsport will add further valuable experience in the ultra-competitive BRDC British F3 Championship when Javier Sagrera Pont, Tom Lebbon and José Garfias contest the

Five top-eight placings achieved in team’sonly second single-seater event



Elite Motorsport will add further valuable experience in the ultra-competitive BRDC British F3 Championship when Javier Sagrera Pont, Tom Lebbon and José Garfias contest the next rounds of the series at Donington Park later this month (10-11 July).



The young trio head there placed eighth, 12th and 17th respectively in the standings with Elite fifth in the Teams championship after six races – all three having made their Silverstone Grand Prix circuit race débuts recently (26-27 Jun).


 
Sagrera Pont enjoyed a very good qualifying session, recording the fifth and fourth fastest times for Races 1 and 2 respectively, the Spanish F4 graduate’s best quali positions of the season. The Spaniard converted that into an excellent fourth (Race 1) and fifth (Race 2) placings but unfortunately spun out of Race 3 on the opening lap.
 


Lebbon had posted top-10 placings in all three Brands Hatch races but the reigning Ginetta Junior Champion stopped on track on the opening lap of Race 1 on Saturday afternoon after contact with another car.



He ran at the back of a four-car “train” for fifth-place in Race 2 but found himself bullied down to ninth due to attempting an overtake in the closing stages before making-up a place on the last lap. In Sunday’s final race, Lebbon closely followed Elite team-mate Garfias home in sixth place after a duelling multi-car, race-long battle, earning Tom his best result of the season.
 


Garfias qualified a fine 12th for Race 1, a position he retained to the chequered flag then lost some places early on in Sunday morning’s Race 2, recording 15th place. Starting sixth for the final race, the Mexican held off the advances of Lebbon and the fast-charging championship leaders, to record a season-best fifth place.
 



José Garfias (MEX)
Age: 16
Born/Lives: San Luis Potosí, Mexico
Car No: 99

Qualifying Position: 12th
Race 1 Result: 12th

Start Race 2 Position (based on driver's second fastest qualifying lap): 13th
Race 2 Result: 15th

Start Race 3 Position (reverse of Race 1 finishers): 6th
Race 3 Result: 5th

Latest Championship Position/Points: 17th, (36-points)




Tom Lebbon (GB)
Age: 16
Born/Lives: Bury St Edmunds, England
Car No: 34

Qualifying Position: 10th
Race 1 Result: DNF

Start Race 2 Position (based on driver's second fastest qualifying lap): 8th
Race 2 Result: 8th

Start Race 3 Position (reverse of Race 1 finishers): 8th
Race 3 Result: 6th

Latest Championship Position/Points: 12th, (59-points)




Javier Sagrera Pont (SP)
Age: 17
Born: Girona, Spain
Lives: Torroella de Montgrí, Spain
Car No: 3

Qualifying Position: 5th
Race 1 Result: 4th

Start Race 2 Position (based on driver's second fastest qualifying lap): 4th
Race 2 Result: 5th

Start Race 3 Position (reverse of Race 1 finishers): 13th
Race 3 Result: DNF

Latest Championship Position/Points: 8th, (77-points)




Eddie Ives, Team Owner & Manager


“I think for only our second BF3 event, Silverstone was a successful weekend.We were in the top-five in every race and it was mega to finish a free practice session at the front. I have no doubt that these sparks will gradually become more regular as we get into the season.
 


“All three drivers are relatively inexperienced and are making good progress every time they’re in the car. It’s only a short break but we are now fully focused on Donington in 10 days.”




-Martyn Pass,  photos Ebrey