BRANDS HATCH - 12th/13th JUNE 2010 - Rounds 5 & 6

My Home circuit and my first win in Formula 3.

What a fantastic weekend. A win on Saturday and a 3rd on Sunday.

This is Kent - News Item & Podium Pictures

After testing on Friday to prepare for one of my biggest race weekends I new I had to get it right after missing out on 2 wins with the smallest of margins 2 weeks prior.
Saturday morning for qualifying and I had to get some quick laps in to be near the front and have any chance of a podium.
I finished up a disappointing 5th, behind Alex Craven who was on pole followed by Chris Needham, Louise Hamilton Smith and Mark Harrison but with only 0.5 seconds separating the top 5 of us I new it was going to be a close and exciting race.
With Louise Hamilton Smith missing from 4th place on the grid due to engine problems it was good news for me as it was one less driver to pass.
I had a fairly good start and kept my position.
After about 5 laps I could feel the tyres getting up to temperature and I was able to start closing the gap on Mark Harrison in front of me who was also closing up on the leading 2 who were fighting over first place. I new that within a few laps it was going to be a 4 car battle over the lead but with half distance gone already Needham and Craven collided on the main straight and with both spinning in front of me I managed to keep out of trouble and avoid the mayhem in front of me.
The race was stopped and was to be restarted with me promoted to 2nd on the grid.
I had a good start and managed to pass Harris around the out side of paddock bend to take the lead.
With 8 minutes of the race remaining I never realised how slow 8 minutes could be.
I was watching the pit boards for time remaining and the gap behind me that was getting bigger one lap then reducing the next lap.
Eventually I saw the chequered flag. What a relief. My first win in the BRSCC F3.
Also to make it even better the race was being televised which will be shown on Motors TV on July 16th, 23rd and 30th at 6.30pm.

Race 2

After celebrating my first win I was back on the track again for Race 2 the following day and raring to go.
I had another good start and went straight into 3rd place going into Paddock Bend and was with Needham and Craven but they eventually started to get away and the gap opened up.
With 20 minutes to go to the end of the race I was beginning to feel the muscle fatigue setting in and I was starting to making small mistakes which allowed Harrison to start closing in on me.
I just kept pushing as hard as I could and trying to get passed lapped drivers as quickly as possible to try and open the gap a bit more.
It wasn’t until after the race that I was told that I was actually closing the gap to 2nd place but I was just pleased to have finished 3rd.
This was one of the hardest race I have raced in due to the heat and the unrelenting track design.

With a win and a 3rd place the gap has been reduced to first place and I am now so looking foreword to another win at Snetterton in Norfolk on July 31st and August 1st