Race Reports

MST World:Full results, lap charts and time sheets in PDF Format

Qualifying, Race 1

Donington Park, 28/04/01. The flags along the roof of the pit buildings were standing straight in the wind as the teams waited to qualifying for Race 5 in the 2001 Green Flag Formula Three Championship. The cars flooded on to the track in an attempt to beat the threatening rain, only the Avanti Team held on in the hope of finding some space on the crowded track.

Championship leader Derek Hayes was quickly on the pace, with Carlin's Anthony Davidson close behind and Fortec's Gimmi Bruni rounding out the top three. The threatening shower arrived, leaving the track slick but not wet enough for rain tyres. Derek Hayes, 'the weather meant you had to go for a time pretty early on, so I went for it, and was on a good lap when a Class B car turned in on me and I lost my front wing, that's racing'.

With 21 minutes to go Sato hit the top of the time sheets, Derek Hayes came into replace his front wing. Championship leader Matt Davies was languishing in 10th and Andy Priaulx in 11th. The weather looked like it was going to take a turn for the worst and the action on the track grew more frenetic as drivers tried to find room for a fast lap. Jamie Spence and Takuma Sato traded the top spot, with Ryan Dalziel and Anthony Davidson dicing for second.

Carlin's Takuma Sato crossed the line to qualify second on the grid and will be looking to be in front by Redgate come Sunday morning. The super consistent Derek Hayes ended the session in third and Fortec's Gimmi Bruni rounded out the top four. But it was Andre Lotterer who topped the times half way into the session and ended it that way, the young German racer taking his first pole position in British F3. Takuma Sato

In the Scholarship Class Ernani Judice scored his first pole position in F3, Robert Doornbos in second and Robbie Kerr in third.

Qualifying, Race 2

15 minutes before the start of the session the heavens opened. Hail stones like peas were bouncing off the pavement in the paddock and most of the field came out on wets, one or two intrepid souls Milos Pavlovic, and Edwards among them gambled on the track drying quickly and came out on slicks. It did, but not before Carlin's Takuma Sato looped it across the in-field at the Old Hairpin in the treacherous conditions. The Japanese Ace fortunately recovering the Mugen Honda powered Dallara to finish the session in third. The Carlin driver in good position for both races, crucial if he is to make up ground on the leaders.

Once again however it was Jaguar's Andre Lotterer who headed the time sheets 'the car was fantastic, we have a good set up for here, now I can show what we are able to do'. The German driver was considered an unorthodox choice in some quarters at the start of the season, but today we have seen the pay off.

Co-leader of the Championship Matt Davies spent the early laps finding space waiting for the track to dry. The Avanti racer, 'In that sort of session it's all about being in the right place toward the end. I knew the time was in the car and I found a gap toward the end and just nailed it really, and put it on the front row luckily'. Super consistent Derek Hayes finished the session in fourth along side Carlin's Takuma Sato. The Manor driver was disappointed to have missed a front row slot, but his strong, consistent approach could well see him leave Donington Park tomorrow with the Championship lead.

In the Scholarship Class. Matthew Gilmore headed Robbie Kerr and Michael Keohane.

Race 1

1. Takuma Sato

2. Andre Lotterer

3. Gimi Bruni

4. Derek Hayes

5. Paul Edwards

Donington Park 29/04/01: Takuma Sato took his first win in 2001 at Donington Park today in controlled style. The Carlin racer started from second on the grid in warm sunshine. Jaguar's Andre Lotterer got away to lead the field into Redgate, but the Carlin driver reeled him steadily getting the run on the German driver as they headed up the hill from the Old Hairpin, the Japanese Ace passing at MacLeans and making it stick at Coppice.

Lotterer did not have the ultimate pace to take on Sato once he was away and he was quickly under pressure from Fortec's Gimi Bruni in third, the Italian charger netting his third podium of the year. Behind Bruni it was Manor Motorsport's Mr. Consistency, Derek Hayes finishing the race in fourth, enough to take the lead in the title chase, and leave the Ulsterman in the hunt for a win in the second race.

Matt Davies had a torrid time of it. The Avanti racer was up alongside Courtney going into Redgate but Manor's Jeffery Jones left the Essex man no room and he ended up on the grass and falling down the order. Fortec's Gimmi Bruni continued his consistent run of podium results by making one place off the line to finish the race in third.

In fifth ADR's Paul Edwards increased his haul of Championship points, but still struggled with a bit of mid-corner to exit understeer, a problem that meant he was unable to do anything about Hayes in fourth. The Californian, 'I was along side Hayes going into Redgate, but I hit the bumps on the exit and had to tuck in behind him, still it's a good result'.

Anthony Davidson and Jamie Spence had a race long battle for sixth that involved Jones, Courtney and Ryan Dalziel, and ended with a spectacular incident at Goddards. Davidson, convinced that his car was faster than Spence's Dallara, made a lunge that ended with the pair coming together, the Carlin racer broadside across the bows of the Duma car. Davidson, 'I got too much wheel spin at the start and Jeffery Jones got past me, I re-passed him and caught up with Spence quickly. I knew we had the speed, but I couldn't get past, he's a hard and experienced racer and in the end we came together, but I had to go for it'. The Carlin Racer crossing the line in eighth. Jeffery Jones and James Courtney finished the race in sixth and seventh with Jamie Spence and Ryan Dalziel rounding out the top ten.

In the Scholarship Class Michael Keohane won and set fastest class lap, Mark Mayall finished second and Justin Sherwood came home in third.

Race 2

1. Andre Lotterer

2. James Courtney

3. Derek Hayes

4. Andy Priaulx

5. Ryan Dalziel

Andre Lotterer converted his second pole position into his first win in the Green Flag Formula Three Championship in fine style. The lights turned to green and the Jaguar racer leapt away from the line clearly in front of Matt Davies and Takuma Sato. Davies got away well, but Sato came off the second row on a flyer and by the time the pair were into Redgate, Davies was marginally in front. The pair dived around corner and came together, Anthony Davidson did his best to avoid Davies and hit Sato, and all three were out on the spot. Milos Pavlovic came around with Sato's rear wing under the front of his Dallara.

Lotterer immediately began to open a gap on his team mate James Courtney with Derek Hayes in third. Prost Jnr Team's Ryan Dalziel was next up with Andy Priaulx chasing hard, the ADR driver diving past on lap 2 at Fogarty's. The Guernseyman now up into fourth place from ninth at the start and after Hayes, but in the end had to settle for fourth, and a good move up the Championship table.

Priaulx, 'we made the best of a very average situation today and that's what you've got to do this year, we may not always's have the best combination, but we've got to make the most of it. I'm pleased though, I was able to go past people and that's what counts'.

The Jaguar runners up front seemed to have it all under control. Derek Hayes began to close on Courtney, but in the end the Manor driver settled for yet another podium result. Derek Hayes extended his Championship lead in both races in Round 3 and goes into next weekend's meeting with a clear 16 points over Courtney and Bruni equal in third position. Hayes, 'the start was bad, what can I say? We're going to have to work at that scenario. The result is good, I've extended the Championship lead and I'm looking forward to Oulton Park next week, we were fastest in testing at the beginning of the year there and it's a great track'.

The race belonged to Andre Lotterer though, the German racer taking his first win in the Green Flag Formula Three Championship after taking three in Germany last year. Jaguar have now won two of the six races so far and this points to the underlying strength within the squad. Andre Lotterer 'Yeah, it was fantastic, not a superb start, but I was able to drive consistently and control the race, not too easy for the concentration, but it was fine'. To complete Jaguar's day James Courtney delivered the leaping cat's first one-two. Courtney, 'the start was mega, I made four places, passing Sato and Davies as they had their coming together at Redgate, I set off after Andre but couldn't make any in roads and just settled down and tried to keep it consistent'.

Further down the field Ryan Dalziel came home in fifth, followed by Bruni in sixth, Jeffery Jones in a strong seventh. But if they gave points for the driver who made the most places, then Menu Motorsport's Rob Austin would have won at Donington Park by making at total of ten places to finish the race in eighth. Fortec's Alex Gurney finished in ninth with Menu's Tim Spouge rounding out the top ten.

In the Scholarship Class; Robbie Kerr took his second victory with Michael Keohane in second and Matthew Gilmore in third.

Championship Class Standings

Derek Hayes	71 pts
James Courtney	55 pts
Gimmi Bruni	55 pts
Andy Priaulx	53 pts
Matt Davies	49 pts
Takuma Sato	46 pts
Andre Lotterer	44 pts
Paul Edwards	30 pts
Ryan Dalziel	24 pts
Nic Kiesa	23 pts
Anthony Davidson	10 pts
Martin O'Connell	8 pts
Jeffery Jones	6 pts
Rob Austin	3 pts
Milos Pavlovic	2 pts
Mark Taylor	2 pts
Alex Gurney	2 pts
Jamie Spence	2 pts
Tim Spouge	1 pts

Scholarship Class Standings

Matthew Gilmore	89 pts
Micheal Keohane	60 pts
Mark Mayall	53 pts
Robbie Kerr	49 pts
Robert Doornbos	42 pts
Adam Blair	41 pts

Archived Reports

Round 3, Preview Donington Park, 24/04/01

Round 2, Snetterton, 15/04/01

Round 1, Silverstone, 01/04/01

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

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

Race Reports

Championship Class Standings

Scholarship Class Standings

Archived Reports

Copyright RB4 Motorsport Report 2001