Tveter Hopes to Be Back in Action at Spa After Accident Sunday at Monza

ZURICH, Switzerland, June 2 — The fourth event in the 2015 FIA F3 European Championship proved to be challenging for officials and competitors alike last weekend. Two of the three races were shortened when officials were dissatisfied with certain competitors' driving standards. Ryan Tveter's driving was never in question, but the young American had to be taken to a local hospital after a crash at the beginning of Sunday's race at Monza, Italy.

He expects to be discharged from a Swiss hospital, where he has been undergoing evaluation, shortly, and hopes to compete in the next event June 19-21 at Spa, Belgium. If he should have to miss Spa, he'll rejoin the circuit at the following event June 26-28 in Norisring, Germany.

"The doctors and care at San Gerardo in Monza were great, but with the Italians being on holiday until Wednesday, they were working with a reduced staff and services, so Ryan was transferred to Switzerland, where he lives, on Monday," said Terry Collins, Tveter's manager. "The injury is orthopedic in nature, and hopefully ultimately minor. Ryan is in good spirits, and he's already looking forward to getting back behind the wheel as soon as possible."

The final segment of the tripleheader was red-flagged by the officials after a second full-course caution, well before its 35-minute time limit was reached. This followed a wild race late Saturday afternoon in which two cars flipped in separate crashes, but luckily those drivers escaped injury.

An initial description of Tveter's accident noting that he ran into the back of the competitor in front of him did not convey the complete story. Tveter started deep in the field in 18th position. Despite the fact one car stalled at the standing start and the start was even more chaotic than usual, Tveter had made up three spots off the line as the middle of the field approached Turn 1. At that point a driver directly in front of him over-braked suddenly and room simply ran out in the “concertina-effect” racing incident. Tveter locked up and after his car hit Fabian Schiller's car, Tveter's car became airborne. When it landed it spun in place several times before it finally came to a stop.

The officials understood Tveter's accident was not caused by questionable driving. He was not penalized nor even interviewed by the officials for any problems throughout the weekend.

The race was restarted on lap three, but the officials were not pleased with the driving that resulted in a second full-course caution a little later, so they red-flagged the race with nine of 19 laps complete and will only award half points for it.

That followed similar problems on Saturday afternoon, when again only half points were awarded afterwards. Tveter was slated to start 24th but he actually started 21st in that race, which again was slated for 19 laps or 35 minutes. He received minor damage during a multi-car accident at the start, but quick work by the Jagonya Ayam with Carlin pit crew got him back on the track without losing a lap, although he restarted 31st, or next to last. He worked his way back up to 23rd, but then he was hit by another driver and he ended up 27th. Some competitors were held at the track until midnight as officials interviewed drivers to get their versions of what caused the mayhem.

The weather did not play a factor in the accidents, as the course was dry for all three races.

The weekend began well for Tveter. He started 15th in the first race on Saturday morning after the third-place starter, Alexander Albon, didn't make it to the grid. A car stalled in front of Tveter at the start of this race too, and although a car directly in front of him was hit, that time Tveter was able to avoid the melee.

He had a robust battle with Arjun Maini in the later stages of the race, as the pair exchanged places twice. At the end he finished 12th, just missing his first series points, which are awarded to the top 10 finishers.

Fans can follow Tveter through his Web site at RyanTveter.com, Facebook, Twitter and You Tube. The team's Web site is at Carlin.co.uk and the series' Web site is at FIAF3Europe.com.