The penultimate round of the Cooper Tires British F3 International Series at Snetterton this bank holiday weekend produced three exciting races, with 22-year-old James Cole in the thick of the hunt for the National Class championship title. Only four points separate team mate and title rival, Menasheh Idafar, from Cole, with Idafar drawing narrowly ahead at Snetterton.

The weekend began with testing on Saturday and Cole was focused on preparing his car for the challenge of the Norfolk track. Afternoon rain gave Cole a chance to experience the circuit in wetter weather, which was to prove useful for the first race on Sunday.  A torrential rain storm just before the race started flooded the track and when Cole set out to line up on the grid in his Dallara Mugen Honda, it was shod with the treaded wet tyre, the choice of all the F3 teams.

In tricky conditions Cole had the better of Idafar at the start but his rival slipped through at the second turn and as the track dried Cole was only able to shadow his team mate. As the race reached its closing stages a dry line gave Cole the opportunity to switch to slick tyres and take a point for fastest National Class lap, a tactic which could prove critical in the final points tally after the final round.

The second of the three races this weekend took place this morning, with the holiday crowd enjoying the feature length race which took place on a wet but drying track, adding to the challenges of the Snetterton track. Cole started second in class, but unable to take the win off his rival, the Merseysider focused on a strong points finish to keep the championship battle alive.

The final race was the first dry race of the weekend and although Cole was lapping at a similar pace to Idafar, he was unable to pass his team mate in similar machinery and once again followed him to the chequered flag. Three second places for Cole dropped him behind Idafar for the first time this season, but with only four points between the two the title battle rages on.

“I always thought the title fight would go to the wire,” said Cole. “We’ve been so evenly matched all season that it was perhaps inevitable. I didn’t have the best weekend of my season and felt I didn’t have the car I needed to be winning, but I’m sure I’ll turn it around for Brands Hatch, the final event of the series this season.

“There’s plenty of pressure on both myself and Idafar, so it’ll be an exciting conclusion to the year. I’m going to do everything in my power to take the title, so it’s total focus from now to the final race now. I’m just concentrating on my fitness, preparing with my engineers and being in peak condition for that final event. Bring it on!”

The final event of the British F3 International Series takes place at Brands Hatch circuit, Kent from 25 – 26th September.