Donington Park looks back on F3 glory

Regular followers of the Lloyds TSB Insurance British F3 International Series know they are watching the stars of the future battle it out and this weekend’s races in the Unipart F3/GT Festival at Donington Park should deliver yet another classic.  The Mansell name is back in British F3 for the first time in 28 years with Nigel’s two sons Leo and Greg competing this season. In 1979, in a precursor of what was to come in Formula 1, Mansell fought against Alain Prost, finishing seventh at Donington Park in one race whilst failing to reach the chequered flag in the other, gifting Prost his best Donington Park F3 result of a third place finish. 2007 isn’t the first time famous names have returned to the circuit. Last year’s British F3 races at the Leicestershire circuit, saw Bruno Senna win one of the races, 23 years after his famous uncle Ayrton achieved the same feat. In 2004, Nelson Piquet Jr scored two second places in the British F3 season opener at Donington Park, before becoming British F3 champion like his father did in 1978. Even Damon Hill can claim a part of the action. The 1996 Formula 1 champion raced at the historical East Midlands track in the 1986 British F3 races. This year’s UK hopes of success fall on Leicester’s Stephen Jelley, racing for Raikkonen Robertson Racing, the team partly owned by F1 racing driver Kimi Raikkonen. The 23-year-old finished third and second at the Oulton Park season opener and will be looking for more podiums at this weekend’s Donington Park races. “Donington Park’s past British F3 winners reads like a who’s who of motorsport,” said Donington Park’s CEO Simon Gillett. “Fans wanting to see future stars of Formula 1 should definitely come to the circuit this weekend.”

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