While Jaime Alguersuari was wrapping up the British F3 International Series title for Carlin, the team's new look National Class pairing were also impressing at
Donington Park on their Formula Three debuts.
With Andrew Meyrick and Kristijan Einar both unavailable, the team elected to bring in Formula Renault runners Henry Surtees and Adriano Buzaid for the weekend to drive its two National Class entries.
Surtees showed he had got to grips with the F3 car in Thursday's test session, setting the second quickest time. He went one better in Saturday's qualifying session, clinching pole position for race one, although the time was later disallowed as Surtees, along with the majority of the grid, had his fastest time disallowed for a yellow flag infringement.
Surtees therefore lined up second for the National Class race on Sunday morning, and made a lightening start to pass pole sitter Jay Bridger. He went on to drive arguably one of the best races of his career, to withstand the pressure of National Class champion Bridger and win on his F3 debut. Lining up second on the grid for race two, Surtees drove another strong race to take his second podium of the weekend, finishing second in the final round of the season.
With only one day's testing before the Donington event, Buzaid put in an impressive performance, setting the fastest time in the National Class in the first free practice session on Thursday. Taking part in his first qualifying session in an F3 car, Buzaid put his Carlin Dallara in third place on the National Class grid and then coming home to take third place, and a double podium for the Carlin team.
A damp track for second qualifying proved difficult to judge for the most experienced drivers in the series, and with little experience in the changeable conditions, Buzaid qualified fifth for the second race. He raced well however, passing more experienced drivers to finish just off the podium in fourth place.
