Ralph Pütz

How would you compare this year’s success to your previous seasons? The current Formula 3 season was, of course, my most successful yet – with completely unexpected titles in the FIA CEZ series in the F3 class, in the F3 standings at the ESET V4 Cup and in the trophy classification of the Drexler F3 Cup. In addition, I finished third overall in the Drexler F3 Cup and second in the F3 AM standings of the Italian Topjet Formula Trophy. There is no more – and I am extremely grateful that I was able to experience it all in this way. Which race of the season was the best for you? And which one was the unluckiest one? As a rain specialist, of course, the second run at the Hungaroring gave me the most pleasure. There, I finished second in the FIA CEZ F3 behind my team-mate Antonin Sus, but until two corners before the finish flag, I was still ahead of him, but then I made an error. But I wasn‘t unlucky at all this season – quite the opposite! How satisfied were you with the car performance? I drive an older Dallara, but thanks to the professionalism of the Franz Wöss Racing team, the car was always optimally prepared and competitive. The car is always kept almost in the new condition by the team, which of course pays off in the long term. To what extent has the COVID pandemic influenced your race preparations? Personally, I didn‘t mind, because I kept myself fit anyway and was happy to be able to drive at all. But the pandemic has presented the team with great logistical challenges, because after the race cancellations in the Spring, we raced four weekends in a row in late Summer. That meant we were „on the road“ almost permanently with the trucks and had to improvise. But this challenge was also great fun! Have you also participated in other races apart from the Central European zone? We took everything that was possible for us under COVID conditions: FIA CEZ, Drexler Formula Cup, ESET V4, TOPJET Italian Formula Trophy. What are your plans for the next season? I intend to continue driving a Formula 3 and hope to be looked after by Franz Wöss Racing with my car again. Hopefully COVID won’t dictate the dates, but some normality returns.