Devaney's Ultimate Delight in British F3

09 June 2008

Michael Devaney made British Formula 3 history by scoring the first ever win for a Mygale and the first victory for himself and his Ultimate Motorsport team. The Irishman led from the start holding off a very determined Jaime Alguersuari for the entire 28-lap race. It was a double podium for Red Bull as Brendon Hartley took his third podium of the season. Jay Bridger took a well deserved victory in the National Class well ahead of a resurgent Andy Meyrick and Columbian Steven Guerrero.

The 27 car field formed up on the grid in perfect summer sunshine behind the Mygales of Michael Devaney and Nick Tandy. The lights went out to begin the race and Devaney got the perfect start to lead into the first corner at Riches with Brendon Hartley getting the jump on his Red Bull teammate Jaime Alguersuari to move into 3rd place as they headed down the Revett Straight. Devaney pulled away from the rest of the chasing pack as Tandy defended his second place in vain. The three cars went into the Esses three abreast with Alguersuari regaining the place from Hartley and both Red Bull cars passing the JTR Mygale of Tandy.

Behind the leaders Max Chilton stalled his Hitech Dallara on the grid and was delayed by half a lap before he fired up his Mercedes engine and joined in the race.

At the end of the opening lap Devaney had a 2.3 second lead but Alguersuari was closing up on the Irishman and by lap 5 was the lead was cut to just 0.5 seconds. However the Spaniard couldn't get much closer on the high speed circuit due to the dirty air behind the Ultimate Mygale causing the Carlin Dallara to lose downforce. Alguersuari would close up to the back of the Mygale at Russells but Devaney would then pull away on the start-finish straight.

Nick Tandy continued to slide down the order being passed by Oliver Turvey, Sebastian Hohenthal, Sergio Perez and Marcus Ericsson before finding some speed to keep Atte Mustonen behind him from lap 6 onwards.

Sergio Perez's race came to an abrupt end on lap 9 when his T Sport Dallara pulled off the track in a cloud of oil smoke, a cambelt problem stopping the championship leaders Mugen Honda powerplant.

Things then settled down as Devaney, Alguersuari and Hartley circulated at the head of the field, each driver trying to apply pressure that would force an error and allow them to overtake. Further back Marcus Ericsson was battling with Oliver Turvey and Sebastian Hohenthal for 4th place, the young Swede setting the fastest lap of the race on lap 14, a new British F3 lap record for Snetterton.

In the National Class Jay Bridger held a comfortable lead over Columbian Steven Guerrero but it was Andy Meyrick who was moving steadily up through the field from his lowly 22nd on the grid passing Salman Al Khalifa and Stefan Wilson on the opening lap and then getting on terms and passing Guerrero on lap 17. The Columbian then came under pressure from Stefan Wilson for the final podium position and the British driver got alongside the T Sport Dallara going into the Esses but couldn't make the corner and went across the grass, dropping Wilson down the order.

Back at the front Devaney was circulating without making any errors and Alguersuari wasn't able to get close enough to the leader to challenge. At the chequered flag Devaney punched the air as the Ultimate Motorsport team lined the pitwall to welcome their driver home.

SRO

See 2008 series calendar for British F3 Championship

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