F3 Donny this weekend

[Rocktracer]

1 33 PIQUET JR 22 29:53.409 86.43 1:06.078 1:09.198
2 7 ANTINUCCI 22 + 1.505 86.36 1:06.947 1:07.684
3 11 AUSTIN 22 + 2.669 86.30 1:10.454 1:13.462
4 12 DAVISON 22 + 14.399 85.74 1:11.320 1:12.270
5 18 RAMLI 22 + 15.139 85.71 1:08.984 1:10.258
6 6 DAHLGREN 22 + 16.043 85.67 1:11.379 1:13.554
7 4 GREEN 22 + 18.210 85.56 1:11.661 1:13.883
8 58 KANE 22 + 18.443 85.55 1:11.555 1:13.299
9 9 PICCIONE 22 + 21.243 85.42 1:11.570 1:15.652
10 16 THOMPSON 22 + 22.679 85.35 1:11.597 1:14.192
11 8 FAUZY 22 + 25.733 85.21 1:11.670 1:24.045
12 2 KOFLER 22 + 27.166 85.14 1:11.801 1:17.229
13 51 VISO 22 + 34.608 84.80 1:12.664 1:14.612
14 63 SHERWOOD 22 + 41.517 84.48 1:12.800 1:16.915
15 17 WATTS 22 + 42.059 84.45 1:11.374 1:38.594
16 19 SHINOYAMA 22 + 54.088 83.90 1:13.581 1:16.349
17 21 VAN DER MERWE 21 + 1 LAP 85.85 1:06.688 1:06.688
18 27 ASARO 21 + 1 LAP 84.25 1:11.410 1:20.316
19 1 DE OLIVEIRA 19 + 3 LAPS 73.06 1:07.473 1:13.144
20 3 KEOHANE 12 + 10 LAPS 75.98 1:13.237 1:35.745
21 23 GRAVES 11 + 11 LAPS 76.29 1:13.073 1:13.073
22 5 POWER 6 + 16 LAPS 77.81 1:14.149 1:24.884
23 24 SALIGNON 5 + 17 LAPS 76.98 1:15.393 1:15.393
24 59 CHANDHOK 0 + 22 LAPS

[Rocktracer]

How does this leave the championship, with Green and AVDM
having little or no points..

[Paul Rayner]

It leaves Van de Merwe as champion.

A hefty rain shower beforehand meant it was an absolutely brilliant race, with Van de Merwe gambling on slicks from pole (not what I'd have expected from a man trying to tie up the championship, but it turned out to be a good move), and Piquet also gambling on slicks.

The pair were down in about 20th after one lap, and then gradually moved up the field as the track dried. Before they hit the front though, Watts, Dahlgren, Davison, Green, and a couple of others, were involved in a battle for 3rd, with some great racing throughout.

Then, on the last lap, Van de Merwe caught Austin into Redgate (having taken over 5 seconds out on the previous lap) and spun it. Piquet went on to take the lead at McCleans, with Antinucci (also on slicks) also passing Austin for 2nd.

Congratulations to Alan Van der Merwe. I have to admit that I doubted him at the start of the year, but he's had a really great season, well done to him. And the decision not to be conservative with the tyres at Donington today was the mark of a guy who isn't just interested in winning titles.

[piquetfan]

Congrats to AVDM, the best driver of the season. I wish I was there to watch this race.

I think not even Green expected to win the title this year. The rookies Green and Piquet are having very good seasons, and I hope they compete in British F3 next year.

As for AVDM, what do you see for him? Does the title still qualify him to test for Willliams? That will be great, because Sir Frank said Nelsinho will do a test too - let's wait and compare the times.

[Rocktracer]

AVDM will most lickely go to Dallara World Series with carlin.

[littleman]

Hope Austin wins tomorrow,he deserves to after today's performance.The laps behind the safety car were oh so lucky for the slick shod guys - without that they would have been nowhere.Still, it made for probably the best race of the season so far.

[Rocktracer]

also glad to see the 2nd race is on motors tv tomor afternoon

[flexible-flyer]

nice to see austin back going for broke. he is on pole for the next race taking anvantage of being at the right place at the right time (track conditions and team conditions!)

good luck to him as he deserves it.

ps. well done VDM!!!

[piquetfan]

God was listening to you - Austin wins


Race 2 - Results

1. Rob Austin C Menu F3 Dallara-Opel 19mins 34.692s 18 laps
2. Alan van der Merwe C Carlin Dallara-Mugen +0.974s
3. Danny Watts C Hitech Dallara-Renault +3.504s
4. Jamie Green C Carlin Dallara-Mugen +3.891s
5. Ronnie Bremer C Carlin Dallara-Mugen +10.031s
6. Nelson Piquet Junior C Piquet Sports Dallara-Mugen +10.421s
7. Will Davison C Menu F3 Dallara-Opel +11.029s
8. Richard Antinucci C Promatecme Dallara-Mugen +11.567s
9. Ernesto Viso S Sweeney Dallara-Mugen +16.568s
10. Andrew Thompson C Hitech Dallara-Renault +17.533s
11. Will Power C Fortec Dallara-Renault +18.349s
12. Joao Paulo de Oliveira C ADR Lola-Mugen +19.249s
13. Eric Salignon C Hitech Dallara-Renault +19.698s
14. Karun Chandhok S T-Sport Dallara-Mugen +24.634s
15. Justin Sherwood S Performance Dallara-Opel +26.908s
16. Reinhard Kofler C n/a Dallara-Mugen +31.397s
17. Robert Dahlgren C Fortec Dallara-Renault +31.496s
18. Rizal Ramli C Team SYR Dallara-Opel +32.002s
19. Tor Graves C Manor Dallara-Mugen +38.820s
20. Masato Shinoyama C Team SYR Dallara-Opel +44.072s
21. Steven Kane S T-Sport Dallara-Mugen +1m 16.084s
22. Michael Keohane C Carlin Dallara-Mugen +1 lap


Not classified:

DNF. Fauzy Fairuz C Promatecme Dallara-Mugen 0 laps completed
DNF. Clivio Piccione C Manor Dallara-Mugen 0 laps completed
DNF. Billy Asaro C P1 Motorsport Dallara-Opel 0 laps completed


Fastest laps:

Jamie Green C Carlin Dallara-Mugen 1m 04.780s Lap 8
Ernesto Viso S Sweeney Dallara-Mugen 1m 05.079s Lap 6

[flexible-flyer]

was lucky enough to watch it live on motors tv! steven kane made an error late on which could prove dear and austin was so exited he beached his car in the gravel trap trying to celebrate!

[Knowlesy]

That ahs to be one of the most failed celebration moves I have ever seen! Great stuff!

[racingdick]

did make me almost fall off my seat

[paulzinho]

Bugger! Missed it cause I was working, sounds funny!