We can't stop though the quarantine! Although motorsport is completely stopped due to the coronavirus outbreak, and we can't see clearly the date to restart everything, the activity won't stop here. Today we bring you an interview with Bent Viscaal, Formula 3 driver.
Bent (Albergen, The Netherlands, 1999) is one of the promises of Dutch motorsport, which is on fire after the appearance of Max Verstappen. Since his debut in single seaters back in 2017, he has been on top positions always: He was third in the Spanish F4 Championship, and second in the F4 NEZ Championship in 2017. He was vice-champion too in the 2018 EuroFormula Open.
In 2019 he made his debut in the new Formula 3 series with HWA RACELAB, where he did well. This year he races again in this series, but with MP Motorsport. Let's know a bit more of this young talent.
Question: Hi Bent! Thanks for accepting the interview. How are you dealing with this time without real racing? Are you practicing a bit with simracing?
Bent Viscaal: I am doing my best to adapt to my best abilities, I am spending more time than ever on my ‘home sim’. And I never thought it would be this much fun! Especially iRacing is a good platform to improve your racing and a little bit of technique but definitely not as much as in a professional sim. Apart from that I am of course working on my physical strength although all gyms are closed I found a good program to keep me fit at home.
Q: How would you define your 2019 season?
I would say it has been the most learn full season for me, of course the results were not always as I wanted them to be. But I have learned from my mistakes and I have especially learned a lot about the championship.
Q: How was the adaptation from the EuroFormula car to this new F3? What are the similarities and differences?
BV: Of course there is a significant power difference between the two cars, with the FIA F3 car being much more powerful than the Euroformula car. Also there is huge difference in weight between the two cars, the Euroformula was slightly more agile in slow corners whereas the FIA F3 car gives more stability in high speed corners. The biggest difference are of course the tires, switching from Michelin to Pirelli requires some adaptation especially in race stints.
Q: Many drivers said that the Dallara F312 will be the best F3 car ever. After driving both cars, which one would you choose?
BV: I think both cars have their strong points and their ‘weak’ points but I do agree that the Dallara F312 was a very nice car to drive and well developed. But I would still prefer this year’s F3 car.
Q: So, we are going a bit back to the past. You were second on the Spanish F4 Championship in 2017, as well as in the EuroFormula Open in 2018, but in F3 you finished 15th last year. Do you think you can come back to top positions this season?
BV: I do think we can come back to the front of the pack again, I have been on the podium in all championships I have entered and last year was the first time for me not being on the podium. On paper it was of course the worst season by far but as I said, I have learned more than ever and I am confident I can make it to the front of the pack again with MP this season.
Q: Why did you decide to continue with MP Motorsport?
BV: I already knew MP from my time in F4, and when we tested in the official test in Valencia last year it clicked and I felt very confident with the group of people in MP. So it was an easy decision from our side.
Q: How’s your relationship with your teammates, especially with your fellow Dutch Richard Verschoor?
BV: I know Richard since karting and our relationship is good. This will be the first time together in a team with Richard in one team, during the first test we worked together well and were able to learn from each other
Q: Let’s talk a bit of this season, as F3 have only done preseason testing due to actual circumstances. You topped the timing table on first day’s morning session, and were P6 on the afternoon’s one. What are your feelings after testing?
BV: We feel pretty good and confident after the preseason test in Bahrain. Testing will however always remain testing so it doesn’t usually tell much about where you are in the field. But I got the chance to get familiar with the car and the team and to develop the car of course.
Q: The Dutch Grand Prix was going to return this season to the calendar, but it has been postponed. If, luckily, can go ahead later this year, how special will it be for you the race in Zandvoort?
BV: If the Dutch GP goes ahead in Zandvoort that would be very special for me, to race in your own country is something special.
In 2019 he made his debut in the new Formula 3 series with HWA RACELAB, where he did well. This year he races again in this series, but with MP Motorsport. Let's know a bit more of this young talent.
Question: Hi Bent! Thanks for accepting the interview. How are you dealing with this time without real racing? Are you practicing a bit with simracing?
Bent Viscaal: I am doing my best to adapt to my best abilities, I am spending more time than ever on my ‘home sim’. And I never thought it would be this much fun! Especially iRacing is a good platform to improve your racing and a little bit of technique but definitely not as much as in a professional sim. Apart from that I am of course working on my physical strength although all gyms are closed I found a good program to keep me fit at home.
Q: How would you define your 2019 season?
I would say it has been the most learn full season for me, of course the results were not always as I wanted them to be. But I have learned from my mistakes and I have especially learned a lot about the championship.
 |
| Bent finished 15th in the 2019 FIA Formula 3 - ©LAT Images |
BV: Of course there is a significant power difference between the two cars, with the FIA F3 car being much more powerful than the Euroformula car. Also there is huge difference in weight between the two cars, the Euroformula was slightly more agile in slow corners whereas the FIA F3 car gives more stability in high speed corners. The biggest difference are of course the tires, switching from Michelin to Pirelli requires some adaptation especially in race stints.
Q: Many drivers said that the Dallara F312 will be the best F3 car ever. After driving both cars, which one would you choose?
BV: I think both cars have their strong points and their ‘weak’ points but I do agree that the Dallara F312 was a very nice car to drive and well developed. But I would still prefer this year’s F3 car.
Q: So, we are going a bit back to the past. You were second on the Spanish F4 Championship in 2017, as well as in the EuroFormula Open in 2018, but in F3 you finished 15th last year. Do you think you can come back to top positions this season?
BV: I do think we can come back to the front of the pack again, I have been on the podium in all championships I have entered and last year was the first time for me not being on the podium. On paper it was of course the worst season by far but as I said, I have learned more than ever and I am confident I can make it to the front of the pack again with MP this season.
Q: Why did you decide to continue with MP Motorsport?
BV: I already knew MP from my time in F4, and when we tested in the official test in Valencia last year it clicked and I felt very confident with the group of people in MP. So it was an easy decision from our side.
 |
| After making his debut in 2019 with HWA, Bent has moved to MP Motorsport for 2020 ©LAT Images |
BV: I know Richard since karting and our relationship is good. This will be the first time together in a team with Richard in one team, during the first test we worked together well and were able to learn from each other
Q: Let’s talk a bit of this season, as F3 have only done preseason testing due to actual circumstances. You topped the timing table on first day’s morning session, and were P6 on the afternoon’s one. What are your feelings after testing?
BV: We feel pretty good and confident after the preseason test in Bahrain. Testing will however always remain testing so it doesn’t usually tell much about where you are in the field. But I got the chance to get familiar with the car and the team and to develop the car of course.
Q: The Dutch Grand Prix was going to return this season to the calendar, but it has been postponed. If, luckily, can go ahead later this year, how special will it be for you the race in Zandvoort?
BV: If the Dutch GP goes ahead in Zandvoort that would be very special for me, to race in your own country is something special.
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