Alvaro Parente took victory in a wet race two of the day for the third round of the British F3 International Series at
Croft after an exciting race, leading team-mate Christian Bakkerud across the line, in another action-packed race with action seemingly at every turn.
The entire field lined up on wet tyres at the Croft track after two green flag laps, the interim between the day’s earlier F3 race having seen a mammoth hail storm and then a heavy downpour to leave a significantly wet track. Ironically, as the grid was formed to take the start, the rain stopped and the sun began to shine.
As everyone barrelled down into the first corner, Clerveaux, for the first time, visibility was clearly at a premium with the spray absolutely everywhere. Poleman Alvaro Parente had made a poor start from his race one pole, and that had defined his race, but he wasn’t about to make the same mistake again as he was off the line smartly, and comfortably maintained the race lead.
Mike Conway kept his second place on the first lap, but he could have been forgiven for feeling that he was being ganged-up upon, as he had the Carlin car of Parente in front, and Carlin cars of Christian Bakkerud and Charlie Kimball snapping at his heels.
Behind the Carlin third and fourth placed cars was the race one missing Hitech car of Tim Bridgman, the Essex lad having his attentions taken by a feisty Ryan Lewis looking at every opportunity.
The second lap saw National class contender Charlie Hollings continue a rather poor race day, especially after he had taken both pole positions on Saturday. “Bruno Senna’s car knocked my front wing askew. That affected the grip level and at the next bend I went straight on,” said Hollings of his second lap off. “I rejoined the race and even with my damage quickly caught the others but then gave it too much throttle in one corner and had a spin.” He continued with his race, but ultimately finished down in seventeenth spot, and sixth spot.
