Snetterton report

Kane splashes to success

Ulsterman Jonny Kane claimed his first ever British Formula 3 Championship win at Snetterton August 11. The Paul Stewart Racing driver was victorious in a rain-shortened round 11 which was stopped when the leaders had completed only six laps. The rain didn't let up for the rest of the afternoon and, with conditions showing no signs of improvement, round 12 was abandoned.

It began raining 15 minutes before the start of round 11, easing by the time the lights turned green. Kane made a good start from pole, but Spain's Angel Burgueno made an even better one, squeezing between the cars of Juan Pablo Montoya and Guy Smith to pursue Kane into the first corner, Riches. Burgueno then dived inside Kane to take the lead, only to hand it back at the next corner when he spun off. Kane proceeded to pull away from Smith over the next two laps.

But the weather conditions worsened and, when Montoya spun off, the Clerk of the Course stopped the race. 'It was the right decision to stop,' said Kane. 'We were aquaplaning on the straight and it was difficult to keep it on the track.

RESULTS FROM SNETTERTON, 11/8/96

1  Jonny Kane           Dallara-Mugen           7m 02.70s       83.12mph
2  Guy Smith            Dallara-Mitsubishi      +5.72s;
3  Juan Pablo Montoya   Dallara-Mitsubishi      +6.71s;
4  James Matthews       Dallara-Renault         +7.20s;
5  Darren Manning       Dallara-Mugen           +9.02s;
6  Ralph Firman         Dallara-Mugen           +11.57s.

-- Best in British Motor Sport http://www.demon.co.uk/racing