BF3

Van der Merwe Rockingham race report

Alan keeps up championship momentum at Rockingham Motor Speedway Alan van der Merwe extended his lead at the top of the British Formula Three Championship points table to a massive 81 points after two great drives at Rockingham on Sunday. The ...

Published: Aug 5, 2003, 4:02 PM

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Alan keeps up championship momentum at Rockingham Motor Speedway

Alan van der Merwe extended his lead at the top of the British Formula Three Championship points table to a massive 81 points after two great drives at Rockingham on Sunday. The Carlin Motorsport star finished third and fourth after some terrific racing at the Corby circuit.

"That was really good fun," he beamed, "I'm relieved that we've finished both races high up and maintained our position at the top of the championship."

In round 15, Alan spent most of the race behind his team mate Ronnie Bremer, but the Danish driver was making life difficult. "I was trying really hard to pass him, I even ran wide a couple of times, he wasn't making it easy."

In the second race, held in front of approximately 44,000 people Alan found himself behind Bremer again, but this time made absolutely sure he wouldn't be behind him for too long. "I made a move on Ronnie which I timed to perfection, I got in his slipstream and pulled out just before the chicane -- I'm glad he didn't move across on me."

With that move Alan moved up to fifth position. Then he repeated his classic overtaking manoeuvre on Manor's Clivio Piccione, diving past into Deene hairpin. Then the race was slowed after the safety car was deployed after Katherine Legge (Team SYR) flipped her Dallara through Turn One.

On the restart, Piccione nudged back past Alan, but within another lap Alan had regained the position. "I can't even remember where I passed everyone, it was such a busy race," he admitted. Two laps from the end Alan was chasing Will Power when the Fortec driver was pressured into a spin from the South African.

"I was battling Will into the hairpin and he put the power down and spun, I was very lucky he didn't take me out."

Alan will continue to battle for the British F3 crown in a fortnight at Thruxton, but he's all set to race for Carlin Motorsport again at the blue-riband Marlboro Masters at Zandvoort, Holland next weekend.

-sutton-

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