Superb Racing at Thruxton British F3/GT Meeting

18 August 2003

Some of the best racing in Britain this season typified the British F3 and British GT Championship meeting at Thruxton on Sunday (17 August). In a day of stunning racing and thrilling finishes, the biggest winning margin was 2.030s after 75-minutes of flat-out racing in the British GT Championship. Five of the weekend's 11 races were decided by less than a second!

Many seasoned onlookers deemed the event as the best day's motor racing in Britain in 2003 and one leading F3 team boss believed it to have been the best day of F3 racing for years. What is certain is that the unique high-speed layout of the Thruxton circuit prompted breath-taking racing throughout the event, and a healthy crowd of 9000 fans was superbly entertained.

The F3 action was stunning, with as many as seven drivers leading during the course of the two races. However, for Alan van der Merwe and Adam Carroll their time at the head of the second race was brief as they raced side-by-side with the race leader. With frequent place changing and incidents all down the field, it was the most dramatic day of the 2003 F3 season. Swede Robert Dahlgren claimed his first F3 win in the opening race while Jamie Green bagged the second race after championship leader van der Merwe spun into his first retirement of 2003 when attacking Eric Salignon for the lead. Salignon was later awarded the 76 Racing Fuels driver of the day award for his performance on his first visit to Thruxton.

In a paddock full of leading drivers and industry players, former F3 aces Bruce Jouanny, Heikki Kovalainen, Marc Hynes and Kristian Kolby were amongst those taking a keen interest in the class of 2003.

The British GT race kept up the drama with an absorbing contest that included two safety car periods. Through it all, Shaun Balfe drove the race of his life to take the flag in the Mosler MT900R he shares with Jamie Derbyshire, finishing just two seconds ahead of the closing Ferrari 360 of Andrew Kirkaldy/Tim Mullen. Balfe was awarded the 76 Racing Fuels driver of the day award for his efforts. In GT Cup, another victory for Patrick Pearce and Matt Griffin sealed the championship title.

Robert Huff secured his touring car future with SEAT by winning the Holiday Inn SEAT Cupra Championship after two action-packed races in front of live TV cameras. Stefan Hodgetts also starred by setting the pace in both races and winning the second.

The Carlube TVR Tuscan Challenge delivered two classic races, with the first one rating as one of the best ever in the glittering history of the championship. Having joined David Addison in the commentary box for the first race, GT ace and former Tuscan winner Mike Jordan was suitably impressed. "That's one of those races where you're glad you're watching it and not leading it," joked Jordan after Lee Caroline beat Chris Stockton to the flag by 0.185s. Tuscan newcomer Stockton turned the tables on Sunday, beating Caroline by 0.318s!

The pair of races for the Powertrain Ltd Caterham R400 Challenge delivered yet more superb racing. Daniel Stilp won the first race by half a second, while on Sunday Pete James claimed his first win at this level when he headed four cars over the line covered by 0.6s after 31 minutes of fabulous racing.

Not to be outdone, the Minis also turned in great racing and the packed chicane grandstands loved every minute of the Dunlop Mini Se7en Challenge race as six drivers battled constantly. Two, three and four abreast, the action was spell-binding and Andrew Deviny's win was only decided as the pack charged into the last corner. In the Mini Miglias, Peter Baldwin bagged another win, but by less than two seconds as Kelly Rogers and Bill Sollis battled for second.

See series calendar for British GT Championship

Related Story 06.08.2003 - British F3/GT Switches to Thruxton