PHOTO FINISH
CHRISTIAN BAKKERUDDEATH IN A CAR ACCIDENT nearly two weeks ago sparked an outpouring of tributes from those who worked with the popular Dane during his racing career.
But while the focus was mainly on Bakkerudqualities as a person, former team bosses Colin Kolles and Trevor Carlin were keen to point out his skills behind the wheel.
had a bloody good lap time in him on his day,”said Carlin, who Bakkerud raced for in Formula BMW and then British Formula 3 from 2004-06.
In the last of those three seasons, five years ago last weekend, Bakkerud took a long – overdue maiden victory in F3 at the picturesque Mugello circuit.
After almost two years blighted by misfortune, CarlinScandinavian driver would not have been chosen by many to be the one who came out unscathed as the top four runners banged wheels on the run to the first corner (see image).
Bakkerud had outdragged polesitter Oliver Jarvis away from the line, but as he moved over to squeeze his team-mate he bounced into a fast – starting Mike Conway, who had got between the front – row men. A third Carlin driver, Maro Engel, sensed an opportunity and went to the inside of all three, and more wheelbanging followed.
On the dry racing line, Bakkerud braked later than his three rivals, which forced Engel into a spin as he chopped across the German. By this point title – chasing Conway had already backed out, and Jarvis was struggling as the contact had ripped a valve out of one of his wheels. Engelspin baulked Conway and triggered more accidents further back, while Jarvis was heading to the pitsand retirement with his flat tyre and further damage.
looked in my mirrors after a couple of corners and saw Yelmer Buurman [who had qualified fifth] in second and I wondered what happened,”said Bakkerud after the race. that I was waiting for a safety car but it never came – God bless the Italians!”From there, the race leader cruised to a 10 – second victory, the first major win of his single – seater career. After a season where he had endured hisfairshareof bad luck, he wasnabout to feel bad for his rivals.
can say I was lucky, but we qualified on the front row and I set the fastest lap,”he said. made it to the first corner in the lead, so who s to say it would have been any different if the others had not come off?”Bakkerudfinally started tocome together following that win. He rounded off the season with three top – fives and a lowest finish of seventh as he rallied back to sixth in the final standings.
