British F3 qualifying at Oulton Park

Saturday, 23 April 2011 19:00

The Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series is at the leafy surroundings of Oulton Park for the the Easter weekend.

Saturday morning saw the drivers out on track for qualifying and it was Fortec driver Lucas Foresti who made it onto pole for the 30-minute race, with Felipe Nasr completing the front row. Menasheh Idafar and Jazeman Jaafar made it onto row two, while the latter’s team-mate, Rupert Svendsen-Cook brought out the red flag during the session after running wide at Old Hall and ultimately damaging his suspension.

The first race of the weekend saw a dominant pole to flag win for Foresti after a lightning getaway at the start of Round 4. He remained untroubled by any of his rivals and by the chequered flag had finished 18.4 seconds ahead of second placed Felipe Nasr and had also taken the circuit lap record in the process.

Carlin driver, Jazeman Jaafar took the final step of the podium after Idafar had overtaken Nasr away from the line, but had his race ended when he went off at Old Hall on the eighth lap.
Columbian, Carlos Huertas finished just ahead of Pietro Fantin to finish fourth while newcomer, Fortec’s Harry Tincknell finished sixth to score his first points of the season.

Winner, Lucas said: “We did a great job, me, the team, Mercedes, everybody. We were all looking forward and working together. It’s great, my first win and I hope the first of many.”

Second placed finisher Felipe, added: “It’s a good result for the championship. We like to win all the time but sometimes it is not possible. I didn’t take my best set of tyres for this race; there will be more speed to come in the later races.”

T-Sport’s Bart Hylkema won the Rookie class overcoming early class leader Kotaro Sakurai.

The drivers have Sunday off before racing resumes on Monday when Nasr aims to turn his pole position into another race win and continue his successful start to the season.

1 Lucas FORESTI / BRA, Fortec Dallara-Mercedes 31m 19.106s

2 Felipe NASR / BRA, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen +18.362s

3 Jazeman JAAFAR / MAS, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen +20.043s

4 Carlos HUERTAS / COL, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen +24.677s

5 Pietro FANTIN / BRA, Hitech Dallara-Volkswagen +25.839s

6 Harry TINCKNELL / GBR, Fortec Dallara-Mercedes +27.110s

7 Riki CHRISTODOULOU / GBR, Hitech Dallara-Volkswagen +29.882s

8 Kevin MAGNUSSEN / DEN, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen +30.644s

9 Scott PYE / AUS, Double R Dallara-Mercedes +31.168s

10 Rupert SVENDSEN-COOK / GBR, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen +34.275s etc

Rookie class

1 Bart HYLKEMA / NED, T-Sport Dallara-Mugen Honda +1m 11.679s