Stephen Jelley has clinched his maiden victory in the British F3 International Series after taking the spoils in the opening race of the weekend at
Thruxton.
The Raikkonen Robertson Racing driver came home ahead of team-mate Jonathan Kennard in the race, while Maro Engel produced a fine drive from 15th on the grid to complete the podium.
When the race kicked off, it was pole-sitter Sebastien Hohenthal who maintained the lead, although behind the young Swede, Niall Breen had made a good start from third to slot into second on the run to the Complex, ahead of front-row starter Atte Mustonen, Sam Bird and points leader Marko Asmer. However it would quickly become apparent for Hitech driver Asmer that the race wasn't going to go to plan for him as the Estonian slipped behind Kennard on the run up to the Chicane at the end of the opening lap.
Having made up one place, Breen was firmly focused on going for the lead, and having looked round the outside at the Chicane on lap two, he went for the position going to the Complex at the start of lap three. However, contact between the two saw both cars spin, while third placed Mustonen was delayed and Bird took the lead from Kennard, Jelley, Mustonen and Asmer. Esteban Guerrieri was up to sixth despite starting down in 14th with Rodolfo Gonzalez, Alberto Valerio, Michael Devaney and Engel rounding out the top ten.
On lap four, Engel managed to make up a further place as he battled past Devaney's Ultimate Motorsport Mygale to go ninth, while further up the road, Jelley was coming under pressure from Mustonen the Finn sliding past at the Chicane only to lose the place again on the run over the line.
A lap later, the focus at the front was on the battle for the lead, with Kennard having closed onto the rear of Bird's Carlin Dallara, while Asmer continued to go the wrong through the field as he lost sixth to Gonzalez.
