Josef Kral is the new leader in the Formula
BMW UK Championship standings after securing his sixth victory of the season at
Snetterton, while arch-rival Marcus Ericsson struggled down to just 12th after a mechanical problem.
A race full of drama, battles raged up and down the field but there was no disputing the winner, Kral taking the lead at the start of lap four and pulling out a gap of almost six seconds to the chequered flag.
It is a result that could prove a crucial one after Ericsson, who has led the standings since the first round, suffered a very rare mechanical problem that consigned him to just 12th position, allowing Kral to claim the lead of the championship for the first time with only four races remaining.
Indeed, it was clear from that getaway that Ericsson was in trouble, the Swede getting the good start he was lacking in the first race to lead into the first corner but quickly finding himself laboured as the problem took effect. Swamped down the Revett Straight, Ericsson soon found himself in last.
Up front, Henry Arundel inherited the lead of the race, with Adrian Quaife-Hobbs getting up to second after managing to slip past Kral at the end of the back straight. Having regained his composure, Kral though was clearly the quickest car on the circuit passing Quaife-Hobbs at turn one when the Fortec driver attempted to place a move on his team-mate Arundel for the lead, the two side-by-side down the pit exit, but eventually losing momentum to slip behind again.
With just Arundel to beat, Kral went after his other title rival and on the run up to the first corner managed to get the drag he needed at the start of lap four to claim the lead and hold it to the finish.
