Linus Lundqvist won Round 22 of the 2018 BRDC British F3 Championship to seal the British F3 title after his only remaining challenger Nicolai Kjaergaard retired early on.
Lundqvist, who took his seventh victory of the season, had earlier taken pole position in tricky conditions and held off a challenge from the fast-starting Tom Gamble, who demoted Billy Monger to third.
Kjaergaard started fourth and had stayed there until halfway round the first lap, where misfortune would strike the Dane not for the first time this season.
Running behind Carlin teammate Monger, Kjaergaard was forced to take evasive action when Monger ran wide at Abbey corner to see his Championship challenge end in the gravel after spinning off as a result.
Lundqvist would never again be troubled by Gamble as the two settled into a rhythm, but behind there was plenty of action.
Manuel Maldonado briefly held third position before a lock up saw him slip back to fourth, where he would stay, while Krish Mahadik also challenged for positions in the top five but was eventually held off by a stoic Ayrton Simmons.
Jusuf Owega finished a strong seventh ahead of an improving Hampus Ericsson, with the top ten being rounded out by Jamie Chadwick and Sassakorn Chaimongkol edging out a disappointed Kush Maini.
Lundqvist is on the verge of winning the 2018 Sunoco Challenge, with the prize including a race seat in January’s Daytona 24 Hour race. He needs just 15 points, after scoring 120 for a win and fastest lap in Race One.