Luke Browning made yet another spectacular come back through the field in the Belgian GP feature race, securing a third consecutive double points finish for Hitech TGR. While the qualifying session and the sprint race – where Browning was immediately eliminated – were disappointing, his command of the car in wet weather served him well on Sunday.
Commanding the rain: Browning’s wet weather prowess
Putting his British upbringing to good use, Browning demonstrated his skills in the rain both at Silverstone and in the Belgian GP.
“As shown in Silverstone, I think last weekend in the wet conditions – I really feel confident having grown up in the UK, there’s a lot of wet driving there.”
After qualifying below expectations in P12, Browning delivered a superb performance to reach the bottom step of the podium in the Belgian GP feature race – following Dunne’s penalty and Lindblad’s disqualification.
With the drivers’ championship tightly packed at the top, every point counts, and Browning considers himself very much still in contention.
“It’s coming to show it in Formula 2, which is really nice. It was a mega comeback from a really difficult qualifying, so to be able to come back into solid points and still be there in contention – the championship is the goal.”
Growing up in the UK definitely gave the Hitech TGR rookie an advantage around a wet Spa.
“It was a good day. Obviously, it’s difficult conditions, and we know Spa in the wet is one of the most difficult tracks. So, it was good to be able to make a difference in the driving compared to the people around me.”
According to Browning, a spin on pit exit cost him the victory: “I think without the spin, we would have been right there. But unfortunately, these things happen. Obviously, it’s difficult for everyone out there to not make mistakes.”
Qualifying struggles and one-lap pace challenges
While the spin and various interruptions hindered his progress, Browning explained that Saturday’s qualifying session hurt his Belgian GP the most.
“If it had gone green to the end, I think I could have won it. But unfortunately, when we qualify 12th, it’s the nature of a comeback drive. It takes that win off the cards for me, so you really need some extra luck and circumstance and everything to go right for that to come together.
Nevertheless, the Williams junior driver remained pleased with the performance. While he hopes for rain in the next fews rounds, Hitech TGR and he will mostly focus on improving one-lap pace for the upcoming race in Hungary.
“But even so, I think we did a brilliant job, and we’re looking to recover that qualifying form going into Budapest, and you never know, maybe a bit of rain might help us towards the end of the year too.”
Browning: ‘I’m ready to fight’
Every point counts in this tightly contested championship, whether for drivers or constructors. The cards are far from dealt, and Browning intends to make the most of the final five rounds to aim for the highest reward.
“I think it’s just small things make a huge difference in this championship and the last three rounds, it’s just not quite come together when we needed it to on the one lap for varying reasons.
“It’s not always the team, not always me, and often a combination of circumstances that are outside of both our control. So, we’re looking to minimise them factors going forwards and try and execute a bit better.
“We’re still within 12 points of championship lead, so it’s very, very tight in the top five so we’re well in for it and I’m ready to fight.”
