Feature
Fresh from experiencing his home race weekend for the first time, Hugh Barter is in the design seat to dream up his ideal Formula 3 event.
The Campos Racing driver says he’d keep things familiar with a home event in Melbourne, but the rest of the weekend would get a shake-up.
WHERE WOULD THE RACE BE HELD?
“Australia. Easily Australia. I’d still put it in Melbourne, it’s my home, I’ve got friends and family living there so, naturally, I want to keep it there.”
WHEN WOULD YOU STAGE THE RACE?
“I want to say summer but it’s really hot in the summer in Australia. I’d probably put it in autumn because that’s the best season, undoubtedly. I get hay fever in spring, winter it’s miserable and in summer it’s miserable but way too hot. The races in Australia used to be at the end of the calendar so we’d be going back to tradition in a way.”
DAY RACE OR NIGHT RACE?
“Night race. Why not. I like them, it’s cooler, more aesthetic so I think that would work nicely in Melbourne.”
STREET TRACK OR PERMANENT TRACK?
“Permanent, but I’d add in street parts so it’s like a hybrid circuit, maybe half and half. That would be pretty interesting to race around.”
HOW WOULD THE CIRCUIT LOOK?
“If I do it in the sectors then I’ve got time to have a think about it. I’ve got to put a few passing opportunities in otherwise it’s going to be a boring race. I’d start with a massive straight to Turn 1 so there’s a good passing opportunity, then run that into Eau Rouge from Spa-Francorchamps. Keep sector 2 from Spa and then I’d probably put Pau, well the middle part of Pau but make it a little bit bigger. Maybe just a little bit wider, otherwise there’s going to be zero passing involved. Then I’d combine that with the final sector of Kyalami. That would be pretty cool.”
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WHAT TYRES WOULD YOU PICK FOR THE RACE WEEKEND?
“Softs. Easy. Has to be done.”
WET RACE OR DRY RACE
“Dry race. Wet races are just too complicated.”
WHICH CELEBRITIES WOULD YOU BRING AS YOUR SPECIAL GUESTS?
“Margot Robbie. Maybe Roger Federer, I’m a tennis fan so maybe him. And then I’d have Flume, the DJ.”
WHO WOULD BE THE ARTISTS PLAYING ACROSS THE WEEKEND?
“Flume. Definitely Flume. Maybe Peking Duk, those are two DJs I really like. Flume would be the headliner. It’s basically turned into the Flume Grand Prix!”
HOW WOULD THE TROPHY LOOK?
“I don’t want to be boring and just have the track map. Something more unique than that. Maybe because it’s my Grand Prix, I’d put my initials as the trophy. Yeah we’ll go with that.”
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D ADD TO YOUR DREAM RACE WEEKEND?
“I think the DJs are the important one for me. I really wanted to go see some more DJs this year so maybe we’ll get a few at a few rounds this year.”
READ MORE: Patterns emerging after Melbourne: F3 Weekend Wrap-up