Carlin dominated the seventh round of the British F3 International Series at
Snetterton as Niall Breen secured his first win in the championship – with team-mates Sam Bird and Alberto Valerio joining him on the podium.
With Sean Petterson missing from the grid, 30 cars lined up to take the start of with Finn Atte Mustonen on pole for the first time. However, a clutch issue meant the Double R failed to get away properly when the lights changed, with the field streaming past on the run to the first corner.
Breen, starting in second, took advantage to take the lead but it was his Carlin team-mate Bird who shot through from fifth on the grid to finish the opening lap in second place, ahead of Valerio who had also gained a place at the expense of Jonathan Kennard at the start.
Championship leader Marko Asmer also gained two places to end the opening lap behind Valerio and ahead of Kennard. Further back Rodolfo Gonzalez made a demon start to go from eleventh on the grid finished lap two in sixth - only to lose a place a few laps later to Stephen Jelley.
At the front Breen was controlling the race with Bird able to keep tabs on his team-mate but unable to get close enough to challenge for the lead. Bird also had to watch his mirrors as he in turn came under pressure from Valerio.
On lap 6 disaster struck for Asmer as he limped into the pitlane with a puncture and into retirement, his first non-finish of the 2007 season. This allowed the top three to pull away slightly from the rest of the field, while behind them, Kennard was being caught by his Double R team-mate Stephen Jelley for fourth. On lap eleven Jelley made his move and took the position from Kennard who immediately came under fire from Gonzalez.
Meanwhile back at the head of the field reigning Formula
BMW champion Breen was driving like a veteran, holding onto his lead despite the constant attention of Bird and Valerio. Valerio had to start looking in his mirrors as Jelley started to gain ground on the leading threesome.
