Interview
‘We’re able to fight’ – Lacorte revels in comeback drive in Spielberg Feature Race
Nicola Lacorte was pleased to be able to show his and DAMS Lucas Oil’s potential with a comeback drive through the field in Spielberg to score his first points of the season.
The Italian driver started in 17th and showed good pace throughout, pulling off several overtakes on his way to finishing ninth.
“I think it was a good way to prove that we're here,” said Lacorte. “It proved we're able to fight, and we have a good pace in the Feature races. So I'm happy to get my first points, it was a good way to do it from P17 to 9th.
“I think we still had some more potential at the end, but we'll take it. I'm very satisfied with the work we've done so far with the team, it's just a start, and we continue from here.”
Talking through the race even more, Lacorte looked back on a few of the overtakes he made and picked out his favourite.
“I'd say when I caught up with the group in front, which was a big group, and then I started to overtake quite easily,” he explained. “I managed quite well at the start, lost a couple of places to then come back, and it worked pretty well.
“I maximised what I learned from Saturday, because yesterday I tried to do the same, but maybe I managed too much. So today I started pushing a bit earlier.
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“I was able to make up many places. I think one really good overtake was on Giusti, T7, inside, high-speed. But there were many good moments, so overall a good race.”
It continues a fine run of form for DAMS, with Gerrard Xie having won the team’s first race in the Monte Carlo Sprint, before achieving another Saturday podium a week later in Barcelona.
For Lacorte – who has been with the team since they joined the Formula 3 grid in 2024 – it is a pleasure to see their progress.
“I was really happy when we got our first podium and win in points of the season,” said Lacorte. “But of course I also want to be up there, so I'm happy to be helping the team with the scoring points. But as I said, it's only the start.”
Looking ahead to Round 5 at Silverstone, Lacorte is eager to carry his form to the British venue.
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“One thing we need is to qualify better,” he said. “When you're up there, and you have good pace like we had today, you don't need to take risks or get your tyres dirty.
“So you're just there, you push, follow a good train of more clean drivers, and it's always a better mindset. Everyone is thinking about their own race at the end, so if you're faster you pass, if you're slower you get passed.
“But you can always manage better, and it will be good to be up there in Silverstone and fight with fast guys.”