BF3

Croft: Series round three race report

Perez Celebrates with a One Man Mexican Wave Sergio Perez did a one man Mexican wave as he took the first win for T Sport in Round 3 of the 2008 British F3 International Series at Croft. His victory also marks the first overall win in British F3 ...

Published: Apr 29, 2008, 10:47 PM

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Perez Celebrates with a One Man Mexican Wave

Sergio Perez did a one man Mexican wave as he took the first win for T Sport in Round 3 of the 2008 British F3 International Series at Croft. His victory also marks the first overall win in British F3 for a Mexican driver and the first for a Mugen Honda powered car since Oliver Jarvis at Thruxton in October 2006. Perez finished the wet race 4.2 seconds ahead of Sebastian Hohenthal, with Esteban Guerrieri securing the first British F3 podium finish for Ultimate and Mygale in 3rd place. Andy Meyrick took his third win from three starts in the National Class.

A very wet track forced all the drivers to select Avon wets for the race. Salman Al Khalifa came back into the pits after his Mugen Honda developed a misfire on the formation lap and after the mechanics had solved the problem the Bahraini driver started the race from the pitlane.

As the lights went out, pole sitter Marcus Ericsson got a poor start off the line and was passed by Perez, Hohenthal and Devaney before the first corner at Clervaux as the spray from the 29 race cars obscured the view. Oliver Turvey had stalled his Carlin Motorsport Dallara on the line, forcing the cars behind to take avoiding action. The Racing Steps Foundation driver got his Mercedes engine fired up and he rejoined in 19th. Ricardo Teixeira and Brendon Hartley clashed at the first corner, with both cars spinning into the gravel and bringing out the waved yellows for two laps.

At the end of lap one it was Perez followed closely by Hohethal, with Devaney in 3rd and 4th placed Ericsson coming under pressure from Alguersuari, the Spaniard making up five places on the opening lap. Alguesuari swept past Ericsson on lap 3 and started to reel in Devaney. The Irish drivers Ultimate Motorsport teammate Esteban Guerrieri was also on the move after losing two places on th opening lap, moving ahead of Atte Mustonen at the Hairpin on lap 4 and he repeated the move a lap later on Ericsson.

Meanwhile Andy Meyrick was leading the National Class, running in 7th overall, six places ahead of second placed Jay Bridger, with Steven Guerrero five places further adrift.

By lap 9 Sergio Perez had started to pull away from Hohethal, ending the lap 1.8 seconds ahead of the Swede, who in turn held a 3.6 second advantage over Devaney. A dry line had started to appear on the track and the front runners were trying to keep their Avon wet weather tyres cool by seeking out the wet patches off the racing line on the start finish straight.

Atte Mustonen started to make his presence felt by posting the fastest lap on three successive laps but the Finn couldn't make any inroads in the gap between himself and 5th placed Esteban Guerrieri. The Argentine driver was concentrating on the Red Bull Dallara of Alguersuari ahead of him on lap 11 and he got close enough to attempt a passing move at Tower. The Ultimate Mygale went down the inside and moved into 4th place. Mustonen followed Guerrieri's lead and by the end of the lap Alguersuari had lost two places, dropping the Spanish driver to 6th.

The top three looked pretty well set but then Guerrieri started to close on his teammate Devaney, the Mercedes engine in the back of his Mygale misfiring intermittently. The Irish driver looked determined to hold onto the podium position and everyone held their breath as the Guerrieri went around the outside of his teammate at Tower. The two Mygales exited the corner side by side but it was Guerrieri who moved ahead as they approached the Jim Clark Esses. As the cars came into the complex Devaney's car slowed dramatically as the chequered flag approached.

At the flag it was Sergio Perez who punched the air in delight, with Sebastian Hohenthal finishing in 2nd place, which was enough to give the Swede a 1 point lead in the championship over his Fortec teammate Marcus Ericsson who had finished 5th. Esteban Guerrieri took his first Formula 3 podium for two years and his first in British F3. Max Chilton, who had switched to slick tyres just before the end of the race took a championship point for the fastest lap.

Andy Meyrick took his third win and also took the point for the fastest lap to continue his domination of the National Class and holds a 19 point advantage over Jay Bridger.

-credit: bf3

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