Collard and Herta secure 1-2 start at Oulton Park

BRDC British Formula Three Championship leader Ricky Collard has continued his impressive form securing pole position following a strong qualifying for Carlin at Oulton Park. The British racer placed his car at the very top in the early moments of the session and never looked back continuing to improve on his time remaining at the top to secure his first pole position in the series. Team mate Colton Herta looked to be a challenger for pole position and was soon right up behind Collard in his fight for pole; however a red flag with two and a half minutes on the clock ended the session prematurely but also secured the double front row start for the team. Ameya Vaidyanathan was also enjoying a strong showing and had been running comfortably within the top five – as the session came to a conclusion he had set the sixth fastest time to secure his starting position.

The 20 minute qualifying session opened with a dry track once again greeting the drivers as they took to the Cheshire based circuit to set their fast laps. Collard, who had been the pace setter yesterday, took no time at all to get back up to speed and on his opening run was already at the top. In fact in the opening few minutes it was a Carlin lock out at the top before laps continued to come from those elsewhere on track.

Over the next few laps Collard was continuing to push hard – the Championship leader desperate to clinch the pole position for himself – and had soon lowered the bar even further with multiple purple sectors appearing on screen. His strong efforts continued with no one able to get close to him by the mid-point of the session.

Herta and Vaidyanathan were also well and truly on the pace making sure that they kept their Carlin cars within the top five with just five minutes of the session remaining. Herta was soon right up behind his team mate in second and hoping to steal the provisional pole position from Collard.

In the final few laps the battle commenced more fiercely as the drivers continued to fight for the pole position. Collard, who hadn’t left the top of the timing screens since his first run, was still aiming to improve and keep his team mate away however their progress came to an abrupt halt with just two minutes 36 seconds on the clock after an accident for Sisa Ngebulana bought a red flag out on track. This in turn led to the session being finished early meaning no one was able to improve or challenge Collard ensuring his first pole position in the series ahead the opening race of the weekend later this afternoon.

Team mate Herta was also looking speedy and will line up in second position – clinching an impressive front row start while Vaidyanathan will line up on the third row of the grid in sixth position as he continues his great showing around the Cheshire circuit.

Collard said of his pole, “Obviously I’m over the moon to get my first pole position! It’s a privilege to drive for such a great team and we’ve put everything in to this season. I’m really looking forward to this afternoon and I hope to get a good start and control the race from there to aim for the win of the race and to extend the Championship lead."

Herta added, “It was a strong qualifying from Carlin overall and I’m really happy to start from the front row. I think we can definitely race well from there because we know we have good speed and a great car. Off the line, I’m going for the win of the race!"

The first race of the weekend gets underway this afternoon at 15.20.

BRDC British F3 – Oulton Park – Qualifying

1. Ricky Collard, Carlin, 1m30.360s
2. Colton Herta, Carlin, +0.265s
3. Thomas Randle, Douglas Motorsport, +0.462s
4. Jan Jonck, Sean Walkinshaw Racing, +0.478s
5. Matheus Leist, Double R Racing, +0.555s
6. Ameya Vaidyanathan, Carlin, +0.707s
7. Enzo Bortoleto, Double R Racing, +0.747s
8. Enaam Ahmed, Douglas Motorsport, +0.894s
9. Ben Hingeley, HHC Motorsport, +0.926s
10. Toby Sowery, Lanan Racing, +1.054s
11. Thomas Maxwell, Sean Walkinshaw Racing, +1.055s
12. Eugene Denyssen, Sean Walkinshaw Racing, +1.156s
13. Quinlan Lall, Chris Dittmann Racing, +1.170s
14. Sisa Ngebulana, HHC Motorsport, +1.279s
15. Al Faisal Al Zubair, Fortec Motorsports, +1.360s
16. Krishnaraaj Mahadik, Chris Dittmann Racing, +1.480s
17. Tarun Reddy, Fortec Motorsports, +1.539s
18. Aleksanteri Huovinen, Double R Racing, +1.627s
19. Akhil Rabindra, Lanan Racing, +1.627s
20. Ali Al Khalifa, Hillspeed, +2.391s
21. Jeremy Wahome, Chris Dittmann Racing, +2.770s