GP3 Test – Raoul hopes Campos test tempts sponsors

SA single-seater ace Raoul Hyman will drive for Campos Grand Prix at the first Official GP3 Test of the 2017 season at Estoril this week, following a late invitation. Hyman, who raced in FIA Formula 3 in 2015, starred in the end of season GP3 Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi at the end of last year, when he drove for three different teams on three consecutive days.

Raoul had not been in a race car for 8 months, and was never out of the top 6 in the Abu Dhabi test and was headed for a top three result when technical issues shortened his final day program. His performance however caught the eye of team mangers and Raoul received offers from no less than five GP3 teams for the 2017 season.

Now with his management team diligently working with prospective sponsors to finalise the budget for 2017, Raoul has accepted the invitation to test with Campos at Estoril on 22-23 March.

It’s an important test for the GP3 teams as they run the series new Drag Reduction System for the first time this week – the system is expected to shake up the pecking order, thanks to its significant effect on aerodynamics and tyre wear, so there is a real need among teams to engage experienced drivers to help them find the optimal set-up ahead of the new season.

Hyman is well respected for his technical abilities as a driver in interpreting data and working with engineers to set up his car, in addition to his experience in Formula 3 and Formula 4 along with GP3 testing. Those are all factors that have played a part in his late invitation to test for Campos.

“I am really looking forward to getting back into the car tomorrow,” Raoul admitted. “It’s been too long since Abu Dhabi and the introduction of DRS is going to make things interesting, so I’m keen to see the impact this will have out on track. “I have already worked with Campos engineers to find a base set-up on the simulator, but the acid test will be out on track.

“A good balance is important because DRS will place additional load on the rear tyres and degradation will be higher, so the focus will be to find an optimal compromise over a race distance, rather than chasing outright lap time. “The car with the fastest single lap will definitely not be the one with the fastest race time, so some performance must be compromised in the interest of tyre life and that’s what we will be concentrating on over the next two days.”

“Naturally, I would love to race in GP3,” Raoul admitted when quizzed on his 2017 race plans. “We had several offers after the Abu Dhabi Test, but my management team is still finalising my budget and plans for 2017. “We had hoped that this would be settled by now, but I realise that the rand exchange rate makes things difficult for any South African trying to compete abroad.

“I nevertheless hope that one or two multinationals will take the ‘South Africa (Pty) Ltd’ view, as my management team likes to put it, and supports a South African on the road to F1. “I am told that we are very close, so now it’s just a matter of waiting for a few more important confirmations.’

“In the meantime I wish to thank Adrian Campos for giving me this opportunity – I am amazed by the investment they’ve made in their facility in Valencia, along with the technical expertise assembled for the 2017 season. “The team has already found significant time on the simulator, and I’m sure they will be a frontrunner in 2017.

“So I hope I can do a good development job for the team at this week’s test, and also that my management team can finalise my budget to allow me to race for Campos in 2017, so let’s hope that some of South Africa’s global brands find good reason to get behind me and other talented young South Africans in an effort to get the next South African into F1.”

Raoul will be in action for Campos on 22-23 March at Estoril in Portugal.