Triple Podium Joy for T Sport

Sergio Perez took his 4th win of the season, and his first podium finish since Monza, after getting a great start in Round 14 at Brands Hatch. The Mexican was under pressure from Marcus Ericsson for the entire race but the Swede made a mistake two corners from home, spinning off into the barriers and promoting Atte Mustonen and Oliver Turvey to the final podium places. In the National Class it was a 1-2 for T Sport as Steven Guerrero scored his second win leading home teammate Salman Al Khalifa, with Jay Bridger in 3rd. (See AutoRacing1.com exclusive race photos)

Twenty seven cars lined up on the grid for Round 14, including the Ultimate Mygale of Alistair Jackson, the Ulsterman being given the all clear by the medics after his heavy accident in Round 13. At the start it was Ericsson who led the field away but it was second placed Perez who got an even better getaway to get alongside the Swedish driver into Paddock Hill and sweep into the lead. Oliver Turvey also got the drop on his Carlin teammate Jaime Alguersuari to slot into 4th behind Atte Mustonen at the first corner. John Martin stalled on the grid and once he had fired the Mercedes engine into life he set off in last place.

Perez had Ericsson Fortec Dallara filling his rear view mirrors as they crossed the line for the first time, followed by Mustonen, Turvey, Alguersuari, Hartley and Tandy.
As the laps counted down the leading pair continued to circulate with just 0.3 seconds separating them as they pulled away from third placed Mustonen who was having the fend off the attentions of Turvey.

On lap 8 Martin O'Connell in the #56 Carlin Motorsport Dallara came into the pits to change a rear tire after he went off at Clearways. O'Connells second Formula 3 race since 2001 ended a few laps later. Alistair Jackson also retired after he pulled into the pits.

On lap 15 Ericsson started to line Perez up for a pass but the Mexican defended well causing the Swede to lose ground for the rest of the lap. Brendon Hartley was another casualty when his Carlin Dallara pulled off at Graham Hill Bend.

As the race entered the final Marcus Ericsson was still right behind the leading T Sport Dallara but it looked as if he would have to settle for second place after Perez had soaked up all the pressure Ericsson could throw at him. However it was Ericsson who cracked and two corners from the Fortec Dallara went straight on and into the barriers. Perez crossed the line in first place, three seconds ahead of Atte Mustonen, with Oliver Turvey claiming his second podium of the weekend.

CLICK HERE to listen to the post race press conferences with Sergio Perez, Atte Mustonen, Oliver Turvey, Steven Guerrero, Salman Al Khalifa and Jay Bridger

ROUND 14 – Result
1 – 9 – Int – Sergio PEREZ – MEX – T-Sport – 29:11.269 – 22
2 – 26 – Int – Atte MUSTONEN – FIN – Raikkonen Robertson Racing – 29:14.640 – 22 – 3.371
3 – 17 – Int – Oliver TURVEY – GBR – Carlin Motorsport – 29:15.032 – 22 – 3.763
4 – 4 – Int – Jaime ALGUERSUARI – ESP – Carlin Motorsport – 29:15.855 – 22 – 4.586
5 – 28 – Int – Nick TANDY – GBR – JTR Marshall Westland – 29:23.159 – 22 – 11.890
6 – 7 – Int – Sebastian HOHENTHAL – SWE – Fortec Motorsport – 29:30.785 – 22 – 19.516
7 – 18 – Int – Sam ABAY – AUS – Carlin Motorsport – 29:31.240 – 22 – 19.971
8 – 2 – Int – Walter GRUBMULLER – AUT – Hitech Racing – 29:34.553 – 22 – 23.284
9 – 16 – Int – Michael DEVANEY – IRL – Ultimate Motorsport – 29:35.738 – 22 – 24.469
10 – 1 – Int – Max CHILTON – GBR – Hitech Racing – 29:38.526 – 22 – 27.257
11 – 6 – Int – Henry ARUNDEL – GBR – Raikkonen Robertson Racing – 29:38.933 – 22 – 27.664
12 – 53 – Nat – Steven GUERRERO – COL – T-Sport – 29:53.249 – 22 – 41.980
13 – 14 – Int – Philip MAJOR – CAN – Fortec Motorsport – 29:53.650 – 22 – 42.381
14 – 57 – Nat – Salman AL KHALIFA – BHR – T-Sport – 30:07.947 – 22 – 56.678
15 – 50 – Nat – Jay BRIDGER – GBR – Fluid Motorsport Development – 30:08.590 – 22 – 57.321
16 – 5 – Int – Viktor JENSEN – ISL – Nexa Racing – 30:09.042 – 22 – 57.773
17 – 51 – Nat – Stefan WILSON – GBR – Fluid Motorsport Development – 30:13.600 – 22 – 01:02.331
18 – 24 – Int – John MARTIN – AUS – Raikkonen Robertson Racing – 30:14.348 – 22 – 01:03.079
19 – 61 – Nat – Jonathan LEGRIS – GBR – Litespeed F3 – 30:21.267 – 22 – 01:09.998
20 – 52 – Nat – Hywel LLOYD – GBR – C F Racing – 30:22.073 – 22 – 01:10.804
21 – 59 – Nat – Jordan WILLIAMS – GBR – Team Loctite – 30:25.918 – 22 – 01:14.649
22 – 54 – Nat – Kristjan EINAR – ISL – Carlin Motorsport – 29:17.786 – 21 – 1lap
Not Classified
DNF – 8 – Int – Marcus ERICSSON – SWE – Fortec Motorsport – 27:50.999 – 21
DNF – 12 – Int – Ricardo TEIXEIRA – ANG – Ultimate Motorsport – 23:32.230 – 17
DNF – 3 – Int – Brendon HARTLEY – NZL – Carlin Motorsport – 21:23.537 – 16
DNF – 11 – Int – Alistair JACKSON – GBR – Ultimate Motorsport – 12:41.674 – 9
DNF – 56 – Nat – Martin O CONNELL – IRL – Carlin Motorsport – 18:32.273 – 11
Fastest Lap
8 – Int – Marcus ERICSSON – SWE – Fortec Motorsport – 12 – 105.16mph – 01:18.761
53 – Nat – Steven GUERRERO – COL – T-Sport – 12 – 103.12mph – 01:20.321