Carey keen to make an impact

Ratoath driver Cian Carey made his Formula 3 debut at Donington Park in Leicestershire over the weekend where he set the fastest lap times on Saturday and Sunday.

Having topped the timesheets in testing, the Motorsport Ireland/Sport Ireland Young Driver of The Year winner was confident ahead of qualifying, but fully aware that just 10ths of a second would ultimately separate the top runners.

As the times tumbled the Meath driver found himself on provisional pole on a number of occasions during the session, but it was the hugely experienced Shane Kelly who took pole with F3 novice Carey raising all the eyebrows by qualifying second.

When the lights went out for race one, his first F3 start did not exactly go to plan as he was swamped by the pack as they headed to Redgate Corner for the first time.

Showing the form which secured the BOSS Ireland title in 2016, the CDR-sponsored driver charged through the field and at the chequered flag had recovered to finish in fourth.

Crucially, he not only posted the fastest lap of the race, but set a new class lap record on his first visit to the famous circuit.


Carey's hopes of a visit to the podium on Sunday were dashed when an off on lap five unfortunately ended his race and meant that he started race three in an unaccustomed 14th place on the grid.

Again, he charged his way through the pack to take fourth place and also posted the fastest lap of the race- marking himself out as one to watch for the 2017 F3 Cup season.

“Probably not the weekend I would have wanted in terms of outright results, but I think we have showed our pace,” commented Carey who was a nominee in the Outstanding Achievement category at the Meath Chronicle / Cusack Hotel Group sports awards last January.

“I was quickest in both of the races I finished and to take the lap record on my first weekend in the series is pretty cool!

Shane (Kelly) has got the jump in terms of the Championship with three wins, so we need to translate our pace into wins next time out!

“CDR gave me a superb car and I have no doubt that I will soon be repaying them with race wins,” he concluded.