by Paul Rayner
Alvaro Parente became the eighth different winner of the 2004 British Formula 3 season with victory in the 12th round of the championship, at Castle Combe. With a storming getaway from the grid the Portuguese racer passed both drivers who started ahead of him and got into an early lead, which he kept throughout.
Polesitter Adam Carroll was pushed down to second, and Ernesto Viso ran third until an incident at Tower corner saw him retire, giving the day's earlier winner, Danny Watts, the final podium place. Nelson Piquet Junior's championship lead was greatly reduced as the Brazilian spun off on the first lap while chasing James Rossiter.
Rain had hit Castle Combe following the first race of the day, with a heavy downpour soaking the track ahead of the TVR Tuscan race that preceded the second Formula 3 race. This left the track wet, but drying, and James Rossiter was one driver who gambled on a set-up which favoured a drying track. Although the track was expected to dry though, it was still deemed too wet for slick tyres, with all competitors starting on wets.
When the red lights went out Parente was right on it, and shot ahead of the two front row starters, with Viso following him ahead of Watts, but keeping behind Carroll. Clivio Piccione and Nelson Piquet Junior also used the conditions to their advantage, Piccione moving up to fourth and Piquet sixth, behind James Rossiter. Piquet's race was to end after just one lap though, when he spun off into the fields. Following Rossiter closely through the final turn, he edged nearer to the Fortec driver and then the back end of his car just stepped out and off he went.
Vasilije Calasan was the next retirement, disappearing on the second lap, before Andrew Thompson went off into the barriers. With the cars collecting around the circuit, a safety car was inevitable, and it came out when viso lost it at Tower. The Venezuelan said that it was a bump, not standing water, that had caught him out, and he was retirement number four.
Rain began to fall again as the safety car went round, and there was one more retirement to come. For Danilo Dirani it was a weekend to forget, with his second retirement involving another car, as Will Power went for his position. Dirani had just been passed by Fairuz Fauzy, and Power tried to get ahead at Camp corner. The pair touched and both went off, Dirani into the barriers and out.
The Scholarship Class battle was won, for the 10th time this year, by Ryan Lewis, who was followed by Stephen Jelley. The pair finished 10th and 11th overall, with James Walker getting the final Championship Class point for 10th place.
The weekend closed up the championship battle, with Piquet's lead being reduced to just five points, ahead of Adam Carroll. James Rossiter dropped to third, a further eight back.
Race two Championship Class results:
1) Alvaro Parente
2) Adam Carroll
3) Danny Watts
4) Clivio Piccione
5) James Rossiter
6) Fairuz Fauzy
7) Marko Asmer
8) Lucas di Grassi
9) Karun Chandhok
10) Ryan Lewis
Scholarship Class:
10) Ryan Lewis
11) Stephen Jelley
No other finishers.
