Jonathan Kennard made like a duck to break his in the 14th round of the 2007 British F3 campaign in torrential conditions at Spa-Francorchamps that ultimately saw most the race take place behind the safety car.

With the challenging Ardennes circuit awash from the overnight rain, the decision was made to begin proceedings under the safety car. As the racing finally got underway on lap three, pole-sitter Kennard was the only driver with a clear view ahead of him as the rest of the field disappeared in a huge cloud of spray. The Double R ace led Carlin Motorsport pairing Maro Engel and Sam Bird, with Brazilians Mario Moraes and Alberto Valerio the main movers up in sixth and seventh from respectively eighth and eleventh on the grid. Ultimate Motorsport's fellow South American Esteban Guerrieri was similarly a man on a mission, passing Rodolfo Gonzalez and Niall Breen as the Argentine attempted to make up for his race one disappointment.

Equally keen for a strong result following his earlier frustrations, Engel was beginning to apply the pressure on the race leader. When Kennard ran wide in the slippery conditions entering the Bus Stop Chicane, the German got a run down the inside into La Source, but the Kent star was able to get on the gas earlier on the exit on the wider outside line and just held onto his narrow advantage.

On lap seven Ricardo Teixeira lost control of his Performance Racing Dallara at the bottom of Eau Rouge, spinning across the track and heftily into the barriers. Although the Angolan was happily able to walk away unscathed, his car was adjudged to be in a dangerous position and so the safety car was once again deployed. Just seconds later, Guerrieri's Mygale drifted to a halt in the same spot and into retirement from ninth place.

With the safety car remaining out until the end of the race, only four laps were ultimately completed at racing speed but that mattered little to the jubilant first-time winner, who punched the air in delight as he received the chequered flag. Engel finished a fighting second, ahead of Friday winner Bird, Stephen Jelley, the feisty Moraes – the only driver save for Kennard to dip below the 2m38s barrier – Atte Mustonen, Valerio, an off-colour Marko Asmer – who has now seen his championship lead reduced to 60 points with four meetings remaining – Niall Breen and Rodolfo Gonzalez.

Sergio Perez took his second victory in succession in the National Class and extended his lead in the standings by coming home 15th overall, with Frankie Cheng pinching the point for fastest lap on his way to the runner-up spot.

“It was a bit of a weird race,” Kennard commented afterwards. “It started behind the safety car which probably was not completely necessary I wouldn't have thought. I got a good re-start and my first lap was pretty good. I made a mistake into the chicane, which was a bit annoying, and Maro caught up.

“Then the safety car came out again and that was it really. I hope this is a turning point; we had a good test at Pembrey before we came here and found a couple of tweaks with the car, and hopefully that's what we need to keep this momentum going.”