The second race of the final British F3 round of the season has been declared null and void, after an attempt to start behind the Safety Car was abandoned with two laps completed in torrential rain at Silverstone.
Lanan Racing’s Josh Mason was declared the winner after leading the race by default after starting on pole for the fully reversed grid from race one on Saturday ahead of Ben Hurst and Arvin Esmaeili.
Full points have been awarded for the race despite only completing two laps of a scheduled ten, and seven minutes of a scheduled twenty minutes.
Double R Racing’s Linus Lundqvist wrapped up the title yesterday with a win in the first race of the weekend to take an 85-point lead with 72 available from the next two races.
A Clerk of the Course Decision, signed by Clerk of the Course David Scott states:
‘Race two of the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship on Sunday 14 October was started behind the Safety Car in accordance with MSA Regulations.
‘The race was abandoned due to heavy rain and standing water and the cars were returned to the Pit Lane.
‘The results show that the leader had completed TWO laps. In accordance with BRDC British Formula 3 Championship regulation 1.6.4 full points are awarded.’
Mason therefore is awarded the victory, with the top-three completed by Hillspeed’s Ben Hurst and Douglas Motorsport’s Arvin Esmaeili. With the race run entirely behind the Safety Car, the finishing order is exactly the same as the starting positions.”
Race Three is scheduled to get underway at 2:10pm.
Glenn Irwin on his way to his first win of the season for BeWiser Ducati. (Picture: Impact Images)
The first race of the Brands Hatch GP triple-header which concludes the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Championship saw Glenn Irwin (BeWiser Ducati) take his first dry win in the championship, and his first of the season, and Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) claim his first British Superbike title.
A front group emerged almost immediately, with Glenn Irwin, pole setter Jake Dixon (RAF Regular and Reserves Kawasaki), Peter Hickman (Smith’s BMW), Tommy Bridewell (Moto Rapido Ducati), Richard Cooper (Buildbase Suzuki), Leon Haslam, Andrew Irwin (BeWiser Ducati) and Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) breaking away at the front. The lead pack was cut by two riders after a couple of laps, as Cooper and Bridewell fell almost simultaneously in Druids, Bridewell gesturing to imply issues with the track conditions.
The race continued, though, and the remaining six riders in the front group continued to fight over the lead and the podium spots.
Despite a good charge mid-race, Andrew Irwin started to struggle a bit towards the end, and after dropping back from his teammate and brother, Glenn Irwin, he was passed by Dixon, and then pressured by Mackenzie.
Dixon pushed on and tried to catch and pass Glenn Irwin on the lead PBM Ducati, but just ran out of time at the end, whilst Taz Mackenzie was able to find a way past the second Panigale of Andy Irwin.
Glenn Irwin’s win was sublime. A lights-to-flag masterclass, a ride akin to some of those of his former teammate, Shane Byrne. There was not one moment where he looked at risk on the bike, where he looked as if he was going to throw it all away. Knowing he was going to be leaving the BeWiser Ducati team at the end of this weekend, Irwin was always going to be after a win this weekend, to sign off in a good way. With a victory already, and with two races still to come on Sunday, who’s to say this will be the only one?
Second place for Jake Dixon left him disappointed. With his only realistic option for the championship coming into this weekend being to win all three races, that was Dixon’s sole aim, so to miss out in the first one was always going to be a source of frustration and sadness, and combined with the mathematically important sixth place of Leon Haslam, Jake’s reaction was understandable. But with the pressure now completely off, the GP-bound rider can go out tomorrow and ride completely freely.
Another podium for Mackenzie proved that he is definitely one to watch for next season, and even for tomorrow. After qualifying, he complained of being not totally comfortable with the Yamaha R1, and it was clear that the situation was very similar in the race, as he had several moments through the race where he lost the rear, notably out of Sheene Curve, and later on again on the exit of Graham Hill Bend. But nonetheless, his pace was strong when he could string a lap together, and some decent changes overnight could put him in a position to take his first Superbike win tomorrow.
Fourth place in the end went to Andrew Irwin, who matched his best result of the season so far. The #18 rider has been impressive all season, and the pace he has shown in a circuit which he has already been to on a superbike proves that he has a great potential with the one litre bikes. He doesn’t yet have a berth for next season, but he is certainly writing himself a good CV.
Peter Hickman held onto fifth place for Smith’s BMW, but it was the man behind him, Leon Haslam, who stole all the lime light today, as he took his first British Superbike Championship, after an entire career of missing out. Fourteen wins propelled Haslam to this title, and with him moving to the World Championship for 2019, this is precisely the way he wanted to sign out of this three-year stint in BSB. With the chains of the championship taken away tomorrow, Haslam should be right back at the front, battling for the win in both races.
Behind the new British Champion, Josh Brookes (McAMS Yamaha) took seventh place – a disappointment considering his double win at Brands back in July – ahead of James Ellison (Anvil Hire TAG Racing Yamaha), Danny Buchan (FS-3 Kawasaki) and Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) who completed the top ten.
Eleventh spot went to Bradley Ray (Buildbase Suzuki), ahead of Luke Mossey (JG Speedfit Kawasaki), Gino Rea (OMG Racing Suzuki), Dean Harrison (Silicone Engineering Racing Kawasaki) and Josh Elliott (OMG Racing Suzuki) who took the final point.
Fortec Racing’s Tom Gamble declared himself satisfied with his start to the final weekend of the BRDC British F3 season after qualifying third and finishing second for the first race of the weekend.
Gamble challenged for the lead on the first lap but was edged out by winner and eventual champion Linus Lundqvist after deposing Billy Monger from second place.
Gamble chose to back out of a risky first lap manoeuvre but couldn’t land a blow thereafter.
“Gaining position from where you start is always great. I got a good run on Linus on the run into turn two, but I didn’t want to make it stick as I was on the outside for Becketts so I thought better of it really and settled for second. I hoped that I could get a good run on him down the Hangar straight but it didn’t happen, it was a great race and we have a good lap for race three so far so it is a good way to start the weekend.”
Gamble has been involved in a tight battle for third in the Championship for most of the season with Lanan driver Kush Maini.
Maini has had a poor start to this weekend, qualifying in 15th before racing to 11th in race one, but Gamble also has an eye on another rival
“It has been really close for third this season and now Krish Mahadik is in the fight as well and it’s all to play for. As ever we’ll be trying our hardest tomorrow to get on the podium and seal maybe another win.”
After two jet-propelled getaways in an ultimately disappointing Donington Park weekend, Gamble made up another position today at the expense of Monger, although the teenager from Nottingham insists there is no secret to the start.
“I’ve always had quite good reactions and I’ve been good this season at gauging where the lights are and getting the perfect jump, which is good. That helps a lot obviously with single seaters being very difficult to overtake in with the aero you have. The more positions you get at the start, the better.”
Billy Monger was satisfied with his Saturday work after missing out on pole position and taking his fourth podium of the season at an unsettled Silverstone.
Monger took two pole positions in wet conditions at Donington Park three weeks ago and feels he could have secured another one in a wet Silverstone qualifying in the morning.
£The progress we’ve been making in the last few rounds has been good, we got the double pole at Donington and today in qualifying we had potential for pole. I lost about six tenths on the data as I caught a backmarker on my best lap so that was a pole chance.
£The fact that I know that in my heart of hearts I can get on the front row is a really good showing for the improvements I’ve made. Hopefully tomorrow we can pray for some rain.”
Despite two poles and a podium at Donington, Monger left the East Midlands frustrated after missing out on victory in all three races.
The man from Kent was less annoyed at being denied in the first half of this weekend
“At Donington I had double pole and I was the fastest by two tenths in every session so the fact that we didn’t win a race really, really annoyed me and really wound me up.
“Qualifying today without that backmarker, we could have been in a different position and that race could have been different but if I’m honest, we didn’t have the pace of that front two. There’s nothing wrong with that, it just shows that we need to work harder overnight to find some pace for tomorrow.”
With Carlin teammate Nicolai Kjaergaard now out of the title race after his DNF and Linus Lundqvist’s seventh victory of the season, Monger gave short shrift to the idea that there was ever any agreement between the teammates to help the Dane.
“It was always every man for himself. I’m here to race and I’m here to win races and I don’t think that Nicolai would want to win a championship with my help, he’d want to because he was the best over the season. Unfortunately Linus has been the most consistent. Nicolai has had bad luck along the way, overall it has been a good battle for the title between them two and I’m sure Nicolai will come out tomorrow and finish strongly.”
Linus Lundqvist was full of praise for his Double R team after securing the BRDC British F3 Championship on Saturday.
A win for the Swede coupled with a DNF for Danish rival Nicolai Kjaergaard meant that Lundqvist took an unassailable 85-point lead with 72 available.
A delighted Lundqvist was quick to acknowledge the role of his team.
“This feels unreal! Mainly a big thank you to my team Double R Racing. They’ve been amazing all year, it’s been a rollercoaster from the start and we’ve kept our head down and kept on going, and here we can stand and say we’re champions. Unbelievable and very emotional.”
Lundqvist was unaware that his championship rival had hit strife until he pulled into the pits after the race to see his jubilant team.
“I didn’t know that Nicolai had gone off. I saw at the chequered flag on the pit board it said ‘Linus, P1 2018’ and I thought ‘That is usually another way’ and when I came in they had it up and the whole team was gathered and I put one and one together realised that I might have done it.”
He didn’t have it all his own way in the first race of this weekend, after fending off a challenge from the fast-starting Tom Gamble.
“Tom made a better start than I did and while he wasn’t totally alongside, he was halfway there going into Maggots. I just held my line because I had the inside for the next one and from there I kept my head down and tried to push on. The car has been great and Silverstone is one of my personal favourite circuits anyway, that always brings me a bit of a boost.”
Lundqvist refused to be drawn on his plans for 2019 with a move to international racing now looking a certainty, preferring to focus on enjoying the rest of his championship-winning weekend.
“My focus isn’t totally on next year but we’re keeping an eye on things for the future, but I want to fulfil this year and stand here and say ‘I am champion’. We’ll see, I want to see this weekend through and enjoy the last two races and the Sunoco Challenge is still at stake. Hopefully there’s more exciting things next year.
“Maybe (there is) no pressure but you still want to enjoy it and I still want to win so let’s see what we can do for the rest of this weekend, I’m just going to enjoy this.”
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.
Nicolai Kjaergaard overcame a possible broken hand to qualify fourth and keep his British F3 championship hopes alive at Silverstone.
However, Championship rival Linus Lundqvist is on pole and leads Kjaergaard by 50 points with just three races to go.
The Carlin racer has his work cut out but remains positive despite the circumstances.
“(On why his hand is in a cast) I had an accident yesterday and hit my hand on the steering wheel so there is a bit of difficulty holding onto the steering wheel but it’s not too bad as I could still manage fourth on the grid. The pain does sometimes take the focus away a little bit but I can still race.
“With my hand fourth isn’t too bad, with how everything is I could maybe have got third or second but pole was out of the question. But for the race I have to go for it, a win is the goal because we won’t be thinking about taking fourth or third.”
After qualifying was held in wet conditions, the first British F3 race of the weekend this afternoon looks set to be held in the dry and Kjaergaard feels that a change in weather could help his Carlin team.
“It’s difficult to say whether drier conditions will help us, we didn’t have a lot of dry running yesterday. It might serve us in that we’ve been fast in the wet and in the dry and we’ve been very quick since the summer. Some of the drivers that were faster in the wet might struggle in the dry and the other way round, so in that sense the change in conditions is probably good for us.”
And with very little to lose, he suggested that windy conditions will favour overtaking.
“It’s wide and there is quite a headwind going down the Hangar Straight which should help with a tow. If you can stay close enough to the car ahead you should be able to get close and drive past hopefully but it depends on how well you can follow.”
Linus Lundqvist says he and his Double R team have forgotten about an awful Donington Park weekend with pole position at the British F3 Silverstone Shootout.
While Lundqvist has a Championship lead of 50 points over Nicolai Kjaergaard, a terrible round in the East Midlands saw him qualify 14th and secure finishes of 9th and 15th coupled with a DNF.
“We proved at Rockingham earlier this year that we were quick in the wet and we are happy to prove that again today.
“It was a really exciting session, the car was really good and I am happy with my performance especially going into this weekend with questions about how we would perform after Donington, but we have put that one behind us and came into this one with a clear mind.”
While it would be easy to look to score good points and not worry about winning in the name of safeguarding the Championship, Lundqvist won’t be doing maths in the cockpit.
“I don’t try to focus on where Nicolai is at, I’m at the front and that is all that matters. We want to finish this year on a high with more wins and that will definitely be the target for the first race regardless of whether it is wet or dry.”
Lundqvist shrugged off his wet weather struggles at Donington to take charge of qualifying on Saturday morning.
“It’s always a bit tricky in the wet, especially when it’s a drying track because the speed you can carry differs from lap to lap and you know towards the end you can push more but you don’t want to overheat the tyres too much. I got into a good rhythm, set a quicker lap and then a few cool down laps before pushing again.”
The Swede was happy with the feel of his Double R Tatuus machine and feels that was a contributing factor to a relatively big gap by BRDC British F3 standards.
“Towards the end, it was the second to last lap that I set my best time so the track was constantly drying. It was four tenths between me and the guy in second, it was good to feel comfortable from lap one and be able to push for the rest of the session. We spoke about tyre pressures and getting into the mindset of cooling the tyres if you feel them getting too hot. Everyone did a good job.”
Double R’s Linus Lundqvist took the final qualifying pole position of the season in tricky conditions at Silverstone, while his title rival Nicolai Kjaergaard managed fourth.
A topsy-turvy start saw Kush Maini set the initial pace before Billy Monger and Tom Gamble took their turns at the top of the standings at the early stages of the session.
Lundqvist and Double R flexed their muscles from the middle of the session, and the Swede proved difficult to usurp from top spot.
Monger would later set two purple sectors before losing three seconds in the final sector on his way to second for Carlin Racing, with Gamble eventually third ahead of Kjaergaard.
Kjaergaard – who needs to put together a near-perfect weekend to steal the championship from Lundqvist – struggled all session and languished for much of the session in the lower reaches of the top 10.
Lundqvist has a 50 point lead over Kjaergaard with just three races remaining.
Clement Novolak will start fifth on his return from injury ahead of Manuel Maldonado. Ayrton Simmons goes from seventh with Krish Mahadik, Hampus Ericsson and Jamie Chadwick completing the top ten.
A fourth consecutive WorldSBK double brought Jonathan Rea his fourth consecutive world title two weeks ago in Magny-Cours.
A fortnight on and the paddock is heading to Argentina for the Superbike World Championship’s first visit to South America. A lot has been said about the San Juan track, with its construction times creating a reasonable amount of controversy within the WSBK community. However, upon arrival, the track seems to be in a good condition, with a layout that the riders are generally quite excited about, and (temporary) facilities which would appear to be adequate for the time being.
Despite the championship having been wrapped up by Rea in France, the Northern Irishman will surely be eager to take a fifth successive double this weekend, which would be a historic one in itself thanks to this being the first WSBK visit to Argentina.
Unfortunately, from a neutral perspective, Rea is likely to dominate this weekend in much the same way as he has dominated the last five, and likely the main battle will be over second place.
Chaz Davis 2nd at Magny Cours. Image Courtesy f Ducati Media
Chaz Davies and Michael van der Mark will be the main riders to watch here, as they are also the two main riders fighting for second in the championship standings. Of course, second place might seem irrelevant, and really it is, but there is no doubt that the riders will have a reasonable bonus in their contract for finishing second in the championship.
Furthermore, for van der Mark (and Yamaha), second in the championship would be a fantastic achievement in his second season aboard the M1, and would send him into 2019 in a good shape. Meanwhile, for Davies (and Ducati), to be beaten by the still relatively juvenile R1 would be particularly humbling, especially considering that the team are forced to retire the 1199 Panigale at the end of this season as the first Ducati superbike model to not win a World Championship, with the V4 Panigale coming for next season.
Currently, Davies and van der Mark are separated by 26 points in Davies’ favour, which may seem a lot, but at the same time, we all know that in motorcycle racing, anything can happen.
Thirty-six points further back of van der Mark is Tom Sykes, who is approaching the end of his time with Kawasaki and still in search of a ride for 2019. It looks like he is out of the running for even the top three in the championship, which would make 2018 his worst season – results-wise – since 2011. However, there are still two rounds to go for Sykes to add to his solitary victory of the season so far, and given his decent speed in France, he could have the opportunity this weekend.
A couple of riders who will be hoping for improved fortunes this weekend compared to the previous round are Eugene Laverty and Alex Lowes. The pair of them struggled in France two weeks ago, and Lowes also suffered a lot in Portimao. Thankfully for Lowes, he has a contract sorted for 2019, although that doesn’t even nearly mean that he will be content with his recent performances.
In comparison, Laverty is still yet to secure himself a berth for next season, so strong results are essential at the moment for advertising purposes as much as his own contentment.
The flowing nature of the Argentine circuit should suit both the R1 and the RSV4, so both Lowes and Laverty will be keen to take advantage of that in the two races this weekend.
There are also a few new faces this weekend, with Yonny Hernandez being replaced by Gabriele Ruiu at the Pedercini team. Ruiu will become the second-youngest rider in WorldSBK history this weekend, being 18 years, 5 months and 27 days old. Hernandez was actually the rider who replaced Ruiu in the Pedercini team for this season, after the Italian’s initial contract with the squad was thrown out due to his age (he wouldn’t have been able to race until Donington). If Ruiu scores points this weekend he will be the youngest rider to ever do so.
Florian Marino is also making his WorldSBK debut this weekend for the Triple M Honda team, who have parted ways with PJ Jacobsen. Marino has been riding the Pata Yamaha R1 in the European Superstock 1000 championship for the past two seasons, although this year he didn’t enjoy the factory support he had in 2017. With STK1000 now dead, Marino will be aiming to make a good impression this weekend, to try to grab one of the seats available for 2019.
Finally, 2018 European Superstock 1000 championship contender, Max Scheib, will be making his World Superbike debut this weekend, as well, as the Chilean replaces Jordi Torres, who is out at MV, who let the Spaniard go, allowing him to concentrate on his MotoGP duties, where he is replacing Tito Rabat. Schieb is definitely a spectacular rider, and certainly not concerned about the rear of the bike sliding, although having been riding an Aprilia in the STK1000 championship, he will have some adapting to do in the first sessions this weekend to acclimatise himself with the MV.
