Kato finishes fifth in the Sprint Race at Spa-Francorchamps
Circuit de Spa-FrancorchampsOn Saturday 18 July, the Sprint Race for FIA F3 Round 6 was held at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. Honda Formula Dream Project (HFDP) driver Taito Kato was fifth in the sprint race, which featured 30 cars.
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Belgium’s Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is a 7.004km circuit renowned for its dramatic elevation changes and demanding sequence of high-speed corners. Overtaking is common at Les Combes after the Kemmel Straight and at the final chicane. Sudden changes in conditions, known as “Spa weather”, can also play a major role in the outcome of the race.
Sprint Race: 5th on the grid → 5th
The 12-lap Sprint Race got under way at 10:00am on Saturday 18 July in dry conditions. Following qualifying, 11 drivers, including Taito Kato, received grid penalties, resulting in a revised starting order. With the top 12 from qualifying reversed for the Sprint Race, Kato lined up fifth.
A three-car collision on the opening lap brought out the Safety Car. When racing resumed on Lap 4, Kato maintained fifth position.
As the chasing pack closed in, Kato dropped to sixth on Lap 7. A second Safety Car was deployed on Lap 8, with racing resuming on Lap 11. Kato passed the car ahead at Les Combes to regain fifth and held the position to the chequered flag.
The result earned Kato his first points since Round 4 in Austria.
©Dutch Photo Agency