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Qualifying Race 1;

Matt Davies 1. Matt Davies

2. Derek Hayes

3. Nicolas Keisa

4. Takuma Sato

5. Gimi Bruni

Snetterton 14/04/01; Biting wind whipping across the East Anglian landscape greeted the Green Flag Formula Three Championship at Snetterton. Freezing rain, threatening snow, and the slowest five qualifiers would not make the grid. The mood was tense as the pit lane waited for the green flag. Down at Russell it was obvious that traffic was going to be everyone's problem. Manor Motorsport's Derek Hayes and Championship leader Matt Davies spent the early laps shadowing each other as they waited to see which way the weather was going to go. In the end the heavy rain held off, leaving the track slick, but dry. During the period when the conditions where worst Jaguar's Andre Lotterer topped the time sheets, swapping the lead position with Takuma Sato.
Andre Lotterer With five minutes to go Sato, Lotterer, Davies, Courtney, Davidson, and Hayes were threatening to snatch a place on the front of the grid. Gimi Bruni, on a flyer, dived into Russell only to spin and head in to the pits. But it was Matt Davies who crossed the line to take his and Avanti's second consecutive pole position, 'a lot of hard work, it's the sort of circuit where if you catch someone, you lose a lap, I think I only did four clear laps. It was wet, a bit slippery, I could have gone better I think'. A challenge to the rest of the pitlane indeed.
Manor Motorsport's Derek Hayes took second on the grid. Quick Nic Kiesa and the Prost Jnr Team snatched third spot from Carlin's Takuma Sato by only 0.040s. With Gimi Bruni in fifth and Andre Lotterer in sixth, out qualifying his team mate James Courtney for the first time, Courtney ending the run in eighth. Ryan Dalziel qualified in seventh and Anthony Davidson and Paul Edwards rounding out the top ten. Edwards fell victim to the traffic, he wasn't the only one, the American racer; 'we're fast out there, we should be in the top four, if it's not Scholarship Class guys having a race or someone spinning off, it's the traffic'.

In the Scholarship Class; Robbie Kerr put in a dominant run to take pole with Michael Keohane in second and Parthiva Sureshwaren in third.

Qualifying, Race 2;

1. Paul Edwards

2. Andy Priaulx

3. Takuma Sato

4. Derek Hayes

5. Nic Keisa

Paul Edwards
Still the rain seemed to be holding off, and all the cars went out on dry tyres, but conditions quickly changed and the field came in for wets. Derek Hayes hit the top of the time sheets with 20 minutes left, followed by Ryan Dalziel and Milos Pavlovic making a good showing, the Yugoslavian making a good showing on his first outing for Avanti. Edwards though was holding back waiting for his moment. 'From the out lap I knew we had the car for pole position, the car couldn't have felt any better, going out of the pits, the first corner I just thought, we have grip!

Andy Priaulx The session was red flagged three times to recover spinning cars in the horribly slippery conditions. All the while Avanti's Matt Davies, pole man for Race 1, was struggling with electrical problems which left him down in fourteenth for Race 2. With 10 minutes left on the clock, Andy Priaulx led the field with Sato right behind and Paul Edwards in third, followed by Davidson and Hayes.
As the pressure built up for the final run Edwards came across the line moving up to top spot, with his team mate close behind, and once again the session was stopped. With five minutes to go, the officials decided that the session would not be restarted. Edwards, delighted with his first pole position in Formula Three was disappointed that he was not going to get another run. Alan Docking Racing's day was made complete with Andy Priaulx taking the second spot on the grid. 'We need to get a better set up for the dry, but in wet it's down to driving skill and it's the Docking boys on the front row. I was on pole for most of the session, but it was Paul who found the space when he needed it and fair play to him'. Takuma Sato, in third, and Derek Hayes filled the second row, followed by Nic Keisa and Milos Pavlovic in sixth. Fortec's Alex Gurney put in his best qualifying session to date ending up in seventh, out qualifying his team mate for the first time. The American racer's tea mate Bruni, was having a miserable session, ending up spinning at Russell and ending the session in tenth. Courtney qualified in eighth and Mark Taylor completed the top ten

In the Scholarship Class; Robbie Kerr made it two in row with Michael Keohane and Parthiva Sureshwaren rounding out the top three.

Race 1

1. Matt Davies

2. Derek Hayes

3. Gimi Bruni

4. Ryan Dalziel

5. Nic Kiesa

Matt Davies
Snetterton, 15/04/01; Strong wind with a hint of moisture, blasted across the open airfield circuit as the grid formed up for the third race 2001. Championship leader Matt Davies and Derek Hayes went out to the grid together, the Ulsterman shadowing Davies. The Avanti Team worked all Saturday night trying to sort out the electrical problems that sidelined them in qualifying for race two. They thought everything was under control, but the problem returned, and Davies needed a push start to get off the grid for the green flag lap.
Davies made a good start but it was Carlin's Takuma Sato who got a flyer and was up along side the championship leader by the braking area for the first turn. Davies holding him off as they dived into the fast right hander. They came past for the first time and the order was Sato, Davies, Hayes, Keisa.
Derek Hayes The Safety Car was brought out while the car of Parker F3's Ernarni Judice was recovered from the cabbage field. The Saftey Car exited the pit lane and picked up the car in seventh position, by the time things were sorted out there was only 10 minutes left on the clock. Davies backed up the field as they came into Russell, but as the green flag fell Carlin's Takuma Sato got the drop on the Avanti driver, and was up along side in the breaking area for Riches. Davies fought back up the inside but Sato was through and away up the road.
Sato begun to stretch away up front with Davies and Hayes stuck together like glue. The Carlin driver's day went badly wrong has he began to suffer a misfire and had to pit allowing Davies through into the lead. With five minutes to go, Prost Junior team's Ryan Dalziel passed his team mate for fourth. But it was Gimi Bruni who completed the top three. 'I did a bad start, lost one place, I took Lotterer at Sears and I got past Sato when he began to slow, unlucky for him, but this motor racing sometimes. I am very happy for the team and Renault, the Championship is on'.
Championship leader Matt Davies extended his lead to seven points, 'I kept in under control, Sato was going away but it didn't work out for him. The next race will be hard work, there's only one passing spot and to guarantee leading the Championship I need to finish in fifth, unless Hayes wins it'.
Manor Motorsport's Derek Hayes secured his hold on second place. 'The start was good, I had a tussle with Sato into the first corner and decided to let him through rather than end the race in the Field. Sato and I had good pace, we were both quicker than Matt, but his experience means he's hard to pass. The next race is going to tell'.

Race 2

1. Andy Priaulx

2. Takuma Sato

3. Paul Edwards

4. Derek Hayes

5. Nic Kiesa

Derek Hayes
Andy Priaulx took an emphatic victory in the tricky conditions at Snetterton. The Alan Docking racer got the drop on his team mate, pole sitter Paul Edwards, 'I thought I got a good start but the track was wetter on my side of the grid, I hit the white line and that was it. Andy squeezed by and Sato got up along side going into Riches, he found some extra grip on the outside and he got by me' says Paul.

At the front Andy Priaulx and Takuma Sato stretched away, while Edwards held off Hayes and Keisa, both drivers threatening for the last podium spot. Further down the field Championship leader Matt Davies was making ground fast, up four places on the first lap and passing his team mate on lap six.

At the front Andy Priaulx and Takuma Sato stretched away, while Edwards held off Hayes and Keisa, both drivers threatening for the last podium spot. Further down the field Championship leader Matt Davies was making ground fast, up four places on the first lap and passing his team mate on lap six. The lead Jaguar driver James Courtney in sixth, led home the chasing pack, with Ryan Daziel in seventh. Alex Gurney made the most of his best qualifying performance to date, and held off his charging team mate Gimi Bruni. The Italian racer trying everything he knew in a four way battle that involved the two Fortec drivers, Andre Lotterer and Milos Pavlovic for tenth, but it was Priaulx and Sato up front, making all the running.
After twenty minutes hard racing in atrocious conditions, Priaulx crossed the line taking his first win in F3. 'It was a perfect start, and after that I was able to control things from the front, Taku was quick, but I drove a solid race and a win is the result. The Green Flag Championship is the toughest in the world and I am pleased to be able to run at the front.
Manor Motorsport's Derek Hayes continued his consistent form bringing the Dallara Mugen Honda across the line to finish in fourth, enough to share the lead of the championship with Davies. But it was Matt Davies, who improved seven positions from a lowly starting spot of fourteenth, on track notoriously hard to pass on. This championship is going to go to the driver who makes the most of the 'difficult' races. Davies used his experience and talent to put himself in the position where he shares the championship lead on points, but leads on race wins. Asked before the race if he thought was going to be difficult. 'No, not after this morning's race'.

Championship Class Standings

Matt Davies 49 pts
Derek Hayes 49 pts
Andy Priaulx 43 pts
Gimi Bruni 37 pts
James Courtney 36 pts
Takuma Sato 26 pts
Nic Keisa 23 pts
Paul Edwards 22 pts
Ryan Dalziel 15 pts
Andre Lotterer 8 pts
Martin O'Connell 8 pts

Scholarship Class Standings

Matthew Gilmore 69 pts
Robert Doornbos 38 pts
Mark Mayall 35 pts
Adam Blair 33 pts
Robbie Kerr 29 pts
Michael Keohane 24 pts

Archived Reports

Round 1, Silverstone, 01/004/01

Pre-race round up Silverstone, 27/03/01

Pre-season testing at Oulton Park, 13/03/01


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