NEWS

5 AUGUST 2012: Harry Tincknell racked up his third sprint-race win of the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series this morning at Snetterton, the Carlin driver leading from pole position to chequered flag to score a three-second victory over his team-mate Jazeman Jaafar.

After a dire first Snetterton race yesterday, in which he finished 12th after a puncture, Tincknell was handed a lifeline in the reverse-grid draw and exploited the opportunity to the full with an impeccable start ahead of the National class cars of Duvashen Padayachee and Spike Goddard.

Jaafar, who started sixth, made short work of the National runners to move into second place on the second lap. But by this stage Tincknell was 3.6s ahead and only a mistake from Harry would offer any opportunity to his Malaysian pursuer. None came.

“I knew I had to get a really good start; I did that, and once I was out in front it was fairly straightforward to be honest,” said Exeter-based Tincknell. “I drove really consistently but I didn’t really have to push too hard. It was all just about being consistent and bringing it home.”

Title bidder Jaafar was eager for points after a disappointing first-race run. In addition to those he scored for second place, he took the extra point for fastest race lap. “I didn’t want Harry to get away too much, but he did,” said Jazeman. “That didn’t stop me from pushing, getting fastest laps. Each point is very important to me because I lost a lot yesterday.”

Third place was held by four different drivers, with T-Sport man Goddard holding on to it for four laps after being passed by Jaafar. But Spike was called to the pits for a drive-through penalty for an out-of-position start and Adderly Fong took up the running in his National class CF Racing machine.

Behind the Chinese driver there was a gaggle of impatient International class men, headed by T-Sport driver Nick McBride. The stopper came out of the bottle two laps from the end, Fong slipping from third to eighth in the space of a single lap.

McBride’s podium was his first in British F3 and the first for the Nissan-Tomei power unit. “I got stuck behind Adderly and was amazed by the amount of understeer you get when you are that close behind,” said the Australian. “I was getting quite worried because there was a big hungry pack behind. I was just trying to keep my head and not do anything stupid.”

A 12th-place grid slot gave Saturday winner and championship leader Jack Harvey a big task, but the Lincolnshire lad rose to it, climbing to seventh on the opening lap. He picked off three more by the end to secure fourth at the line. “That’s all right,” said Jack. “I had a bit of problem at the start with the handbrake system, so it was a good result I think.”

Fortec’s Alex Lynn followed Harvey home for fifth, ahead of his team-mates Felix Serralles and Pipo Derani. Fortec’s fourth man, Hannes van Asseldonk, was delayed by a puncture after contact on the opening lap.

Pietro Fantin was eighth for Carlin and Fong ninth overall to claim another convincing National class win, ahead of Double R’s Geoff Uhrhane and Carlos Sainz, who had started from the back after his Saturday race retirement.

T-Sport’s Pedro Pablo Calbimonte headed home Duvashen Padayachee and Goddard for second in the National class.

 

Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series

Round 22, Snetterton 5/8/2012

11 laps / 32.66 miles

 

Provisional results International class

1  Harry TINCKNELL / GBR,  Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen  18m 59.075s / 103.21mph

2  Jazeman JAAFAR / MAS,  Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen  +3.088s

3  Nick McBRIDE / AUS,  T-Sport Dallara-Nissan  +28.552s

4  Jack HARVEY / GBR,  Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen  +28.827s

5  Alex LYNN / GBR,  Fortec Dallara-Mercedes  +29.497s

6  Felix SERRALLES / PUR,  Fortec Dallara-Mercedes  +29.649s

7  Pipo DERANI / BRA,  Fortec Dallara-Mercedes  +31.663s

8  Pietro FANTIN / BRA,  Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen  +32.486s

9  Geoff UHRHANE / AUS,  Double R Dallara-Mercedes  +34.983s

10  Carlos SAINZ / ESP,  Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen  +35.391s

11  Hannes VAN ASSELDONK / NED,  Fortec Dallara-Mercedes  +1m 09.700s

 

National class

1  Adderly FONG / CHI,  CF Racing Dallara-Mugen Honda  +34.699s

2  Pedro Pablo CALBIMONTE / BOL,  T-Sport Dallara-Mugen Honda  +43.462s

3  Duvashen PADAYACHEE / AUS,  Double R Dallara-Mugen Honda  +48.704s

4  Spike GODDARD / AUS,  T-Sport Dallara-Mugen Honda  +49.863s

 

Did not finish

Fahmi ILYAS / MAS,  Double R Dallara-Mercedes  4 laps

 

Fastest lap Jaafar 1m 42.426s / 104.34mph

 

Full timesheets http://bit.ly/QhS5K8

 

Provisional championship standings

1  Harvey 239 points; 2 Serralles 233; 3 Jaafar 224; 4 Sainz 177; 5 Lynn 176; 6 Tincknell 165 etc

National class 1 Goddard 319; 2 Padayachee 287; 3 Fong 140; 4 Calbimonte 40.

Article Written By Admin on 5th Aug 2012