Vergne is British F3 champ
Vergne’s championship win is the sixth F3 title for the Carlin team and the third consecutive win. Vergne follows in the footsteps of 2008 champion Jaime Alguersuari and 2009 champion Daniel Ricciardo. Vergne led home teammate and race two winner Adriano Buzaid in second, with James Calado fourth, Lucas Foresti fifth and Rupert Svendsen-Cook sixth. Jazeman Jaafar crossed the line 13th having started 23rd. Vergne’s charge to the Cooper Tires British F3 title has been an impressive one.
The Frenchman won his maiden F3 race at Oulton Park back in April and has since won races at Magny Cours, Hockenheim, Rockingham, Thruxton and taken a hat trick of wins at Spa-Francorchamps. The 20 year-old has claimed 12 wins, 15 podiums in total and recorded 12 fastest laps.
Vergne’s 12th victory came via a relatively uneventful race which saw the Frenchman lead from the outset. A safety car period on lap one was the only disturbance in a race which saw little overtaking. Starting from pole Vergne led the field into the first corner and his lead was unchallenged throughout although team mate Buzaid remained close to cross the line 1.2 seconds behind.
Earlier in the day, Vergne finished third in the second race of the weekend which was won by team mate Buzaid who charged to his first victory of the season. Calado finished fifth, with Svendsen-Cook sixth, Jaafar eight and Foresti 12th.
With Vergne’s title already secured, the fight for vice champion is still wide open. Carlin’s Calado currently lies second in the championship standings, leading Fortec’s Oliver Webb by 17 points. Also high up the championship table is Buzaid who is fourth in the standings while Svendsen-Cook is just 1 point off Hitech’s Gabriel Dias in the fight for fifth overall.
The delighted 2010 champion said, “Honestly I don’t know what to say. To be the first Frenchman to win such a prestigious championship feels incredible. It’s been an amazing season so far; big big thanks to all the guys from Carlin. We didn’t make any mistakes this season, they provided me with a fantastic car, which is why we have been able to win the championship so early. In a few days I might be able to say better how I feel! It definitely hasn’t sunk in yet."
Speaking about Vergne’s achievement, Trevor Carlin said, “Jean-Eric has been a force to be reckoned with this season. He showed his intent early on by taking two race wins at Oulton Park and his charge to the title has been relentless. Our aim now is to finish second in the championship with James and help our other drivers finish as high up the order as possible. I’d like to thank everyone in the team, our suppliers and of course Volkswagen Motorsport for helping us provide our drivers with such a dominant package this season."
Results
Round 23 Silverstone 15/8/2010 11 laps = 35.14 miles
Provisional results International class
1 Adriano BUZAID / BRA, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 19m 08.094s / 110.16mph
2 Carlos HUERTAS / COL, RR Dallara-Mercedes +2.690s
3 Jean-Eric VERGNE / FRA, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen +3.453s
4 Felipe NASR / BRA, RR Dallara-Mercedes +4.541s
5 James CALADO / GBR, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen +6.205s
6 Rupert SVENDSEN-COOK / GBR, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen +14.767s
7 Oli WEBB / GBR, Fortec Dallara-Mercedes +15.272s
8 Jazeman JAAFAR / MAS, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen +15.786s
9 Hywel LLOYD / GBR, CF/Manor Dallara-Mercedes +17.512s
10 Daniel McKENZIE / GBR, Fortec Dallara-Mercedes +19.210s etc
Invitation class
1 Carlos MUNOZ / ESP, Mücke Dallara-Mercedes +21.189s
2 Pietro FANTIN / BRA, Hitech Dallara-Volkswagen + 50.043s
National class
1 James COLE / GBR, T-Sport Dallara-Mugen Honda +34.121s
2 Menasheh IDAFAR / GBR, T-Sport Dallara-Mugen Honda +34.897s
3 Juan Carlos SISTOS / MEX, West-Tec Dallara-Mugen Honda +1m 12.774s
Fastest lap: Huertas 1m 41.621s / 113.16mph
Round 24 Silverstone 15/8/2010 23 laps = 73.47 miles
Provisional results International class
1 Jean-Eric VERGNE / FRA, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen 41m 01.289s / 107.44mph
2 Adriano BUZAID / BRA, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen +1.212s
3 Oli WEBB / GBR, Fortec Dallara-Mercedes +6.234s
4 James CALADO / GBR, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen +7.280s
5 Lucas FORESTI / BRA, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen +20.222s
6 Rupert SVENDSEN-COOK / GBR, Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen +24.772s
7 Gabriel DIAS / BRA, Hitech Dallara-Volkswagen +25.895s
8 Alex BRUNDLE / GBR, T-Sport Dallara-Volkswagen +29.188s
9 William BULLER / GBR, Hitech Dallara-Volkswagen +29.981s
10 Daniel McKENZIE / GBR, Fortec Dallara-Mercedes +30.678s etc
Invitation class
1 Carlos MUNOZ / ESP, Mücke Dallara-Mercedes +52.482s
2 Pietro FANTIN / BRA, Hitech Dallara-Volkswagen +1m 21.452s
National class
1 Menasheh IDAFAR / GBR, T-Sport Dallara-Mugen Honda +35.832s
2 James COLE / GBR, T-Sport Dallara-Mugen Honda +1m 06.183s
3 Juan Carlos SISTOS / MEX, West-Tec Dallara-Mugen Honda +1m 18.599s
Fastest lap: Vergne 1m 41.235s / 113.59mph Record