Powell Post - Volume 6

Here is a brand new Powell Post from JLF1's exclusive guest blogger, F3 Cup championship leader Alice Powell. In this months piece, Alice explains her schedule for a race weekend and discusses why she doesn't have special pre-race rituals.

Hello Powell Post readers! I hope everyone is well. I thought in this month’s post, I would give you an insight into what goes on during a F3 Cup race weekend. 


My weekend starts off by heading to the circuit on Thursday to either walk the circuit or chatting to the team… Usually both!! Testing then takes place on the Friday but at the last race weekend (Silverstone), we didn’t get much track time because of the bad weather which completely soaked the circuit. Because of this, we were slightly restricted on getting the car sorted for qualifying and the races. 

After each session, I spend time talking to the team, discussing the handling of the car and writing about the cars handling on each corner in three sections: entry, middle and exit. I also look through the data and on board video to see where I could gain time and improve. We also discuss plans for the next session. However, saying that, we also have these discussions after each qualifying session and the race. 

On Saturday we have drivers briefing, which all F3 Cup drivers and team managers attend. Here, we get briefed on the regulations and procedures for the weekend. Qualifying is a 25 minute morning session where we, basically, go out and try and be the fastest!!! There is no Q1, Q2 or Q3 style like they have in Formula 1, just 25 minutes to set a time. 

After qualifying we then have a 20-30 minute race (race one) on Saturday afternoon. Race two takes place on the Sunday morning or afternoon depending on the race schedule. The grid for the final race of the weekend is determined by the order of fastest laps in race one, so if you were the fastest in R1, then you will be on pole for race two! The way in which grids are determined varies from series to series, but that is how we do it in the F3 Cup. The race duration is the same as the first but - unlike F1 - we don’t have pit stops. So we only enter the pit lane if we really have to, for example a puncture or retirement. 

So that is how a F1 Cup race weekend works. A common question that I get asked is if I have any pre-race rituals or superstitions, like getting in the car a certain side or putting a certain glove on first. I know some drivers who have lucky underwear, but not me. I used to always get in the car from the left hand side but then I realised that it made no difference to my performance or luck at all! So now I don’t have any rituals. I make sure I am warmed up before each session - by that I mean my muscles are warm and I am psyched up. To do this I usually go for a jog around the paddock, do some skipping or kick about a football as well as stretching. Most drivers, if not all drivers in F1, do something like this, as racing is a physical activity so you need to make sure your body and mind is ready to race hard! 

My next race weekend is at Snetterton on the 7-8th September. The race for the championship is really hotting up, and the pressure is increasing!! I am so hungry for another championship success. We just need to get the car sorted and back to the pace we had at the start of the season. 

Till next time Powell Post readers! Take care.

Alice Powell x