British F3 – Monger: I want to be judged as a racing driver

Billy Monger says he wants to be judged as a racing driver only after missing out on two British F3 victories on his return to Donington Park.

Monger had qualified on pole position for Saurdays wet Race One before a lock up saw him slip back into sixth.

He would go on to recover to fourth, before setting the fastest lap in Race Two to earn pole for the final race of the day.

Another lock up when leading from teammate Nicolai Kjaergaard cost him three places, before fellow Carlin driver Jamie Caroline broke his suspension to leave Monger third.

Despite podiums and good pace on his first return to the scene of his life-changing accident a year ago, Monger was not satisfied.

“It could have been more,” the 19-year-old began.

“I’ve been the fastest driver in all conditions this weekend, fastest in the wet on Thursday, qualifying pole on Saturday and the fastest lap earlier.

“It’s such a frustrating time as a driver when you know that the speed you have is quicker than anyone else and a couple of mistakes cost you the results you deserve.”

Monger made no excuses for not converting those poles into victories.

“I have only myself to blame. In race one, I locked up and went on the grass and it was the same again today, I was in the lead and locked up early on at the chicane and cost myself three positions.

“As a racing driver, which is what I want to be seen as, the performances in the races this weekend were not up to the standards that I need to be hitting. I have to accept that and make sure I come back at Silverstone stronger.”

Monger is looking forward to the British F3 Championship’s return to Silverstone in three weeks’ time, where he was also quick back in June.

“Obviously coming back to Donington was a bit of a challenge as everyone knows, but my performances weren’t good enough in the race. I know that I’m capable of putting it on pole position, I’ve had two this weekend so I want to keep them coming and get the results I deserve in the races.”

With a lot of the build-up to this weekend centring on Monger’s accident last year, he insists that once he got back into the car that previous events weren’t on his mind.

“This weekend I haven’t thought about it at all. Obviously that’s a good thing. I’ve shown (that it hasn’t affected me) in the way that I have driven this weekend with the speed I’ve had.

“But for a few mistakes, we should have had two wins. I’ll have to take that on the chin and not get too down about it, I have work to do at Silverstone.”

 

IMAGE: Jamie Sheldrick/Spacesuit Media

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