Magnussen storms to F3 pole
It was a copybook performance from the 19-year-old Dane, the Carlin man leading all the way from pole position and extending his advantage over his pursuers with every passing lap. Along the way to his eight-second victory, Magnussen stole the lap record for the 3.7-mile Grand Prix circuit.
His win puts Kevin six points clear of his closest challenger for championship runner-up position, Colombian Carlos Huertas, who placed seventh today. Kevin says he would be pleased to add a further win tomorrow to take him ahead of Nasr’s wins record: “That would be the optimum thing but Felipe isn’t the most important person I have to beat because it is me and Carlos who are fighting it out for championship second. Everything worked out perfectly in this race; the car was awesome, I made a good start and after that everything went my way really."
Nasr’s hopes of challenging Magnussen for the win were dashed from the outset: “I had a problem with the clutch and I couldn’t get a very good start. Then I had to follow the car in front and that made my tires worse."
The car in front thanks to a great getaway from third on the grid was Scott Pye for Double R Racing. The Aussie slotted past Nasr at the outset and gave chase to Magnussen. “I got a good start but unfortunately after the first lap I couldn’t stay with Kevin. The were a couple of opportunities on the first lap but I think he was running a bit more downforce and through the middle sector he was pulling that little bit on me. But second is great; I can’t stop smiling. The whole team have worked very hard for this. It feels almost too late, but I guess it’s a good way to finish the season. Hopefully I can come back next year and shoot for the championship."
Magnussen won by 8s from Pye, with Nasr 1.3s further behind for the final podium slot. Jazeman Jaafar pulled off the only overtaking move in the top 10 after the start when the Carlin driver snatched fourth from Fortec’s Lucas Foresti on the sixth tour.
Foresti led home his team-mate Will Buller for fifth, with the visiting Alexander Sims eighth for Motopark behind Huertas. Hitech’s Pietro Fantin and Racing Steps Foundation driver Jack Harvey completed the top 10.
Rupert Svendsen-Cook saw his hopes of championship second ruined by a split brake line on the opening lap; Double R’s Mitch Evans joined him in retirement with a seventh-lap spin.
There were uncontested class wins for Rookie champion Kotaro Sakurai and Invitee Guilherme Silva, Hitech men both.
The battle for championship second goes down to tomorrow between Magnussen, Huertas, Buller and Jaafar, with Svendsen-Cook still in with a chance of championship third.
Both of tomorrow’s races will be live on Motors TV, at 1007 and 1610.
British Formula 3 enjoys the headlining support of Cooper Tires and is additionally backed by Sunoco Racing Fuels, Anglo American Oil Company and OAMPS.
Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series
Round 28, Silverstone GP 8/10/2011
15 laps / 54.91 miles
Provisional results Championship class
1 Kevin MAGNUSSEN / DEN, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 28m 34.986s / 115.26mph
2 Scott PYE / AUS, Double R Dallara-Mercedes +8.028s
3 Felipe NASR / BRA, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen +9.376s
4 Jazeman JAAFAR / MAS, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen +10.558s
5 Lucas FORESTI / BRA, Fortec Dallara-Mercedes +14.907s
6 William BULLER /GBR, Fortec Dallara-Mercedes +23.027s
7 Carlos HUERTAS / COL, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen +23.449s
8 Alexander SIMS / GBR, Motopark Dallara-Volkswagen +24.044s
9 Pietro FANTIN / BRA, Hitech Dallara-Volkswagen +24.556s
10 Jack HARVEY / GBR, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen +25.619s etc
Invitation class
1 Guilherme SILVA / BRA, Hitech Dallara-Volkswagen +47.267s
Rookie class
1 Kotaro SAKURAI / JPN, Hitech Dallara-Mugen Honda +1m 08.097s
Fastest lap Magnussen 1m 53.728s / 115.89mph Rec