Addax Team racer Dean Smith lost out on the chance of a near-guaranteed podium finish at Valencia Street Circuit in Spain over the weekend, 25th/26th June, during the latest instalment of GP3 Series action – a fuel pressure problem robbing him of a certain second place on the final lap of race one.Having started Saturday’s fifth round of the season from the front-row of the grid after a career-best GP3 qualifying effort, Wolverhampton-based Dean built a comfortable gap in the runner-up spot as he closed in on his second podium in as many events. As he approached the final corner of the very last lap though, his Renault-powered Dallara suddenly crawled to a near-halt.Managing to coast to the line, he slipped to fifth but at least managed to secure some championship points and a second row start on the ‘reverse grid’ for Sunday’s sixth round. Unfortunately for the 23-year-old former McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner, the second race ended with further disappointment when a contentious drive-through penalty dropped him out of the top five to 11th.“We’ve been fast the whole weekend, I’ve had good pace and have driven well and the car has been working well so to come away without another podium is very frustrating”, said Dean, “I’m really annoyed about the drive-through as a lot of drivers were quicker than me when yellows were out so I’m not happy about that. I definitely backed off but if I am going to get a penalty, the others should!“I do want to say a big thank you to Addax and all of the team’s sponsors, especially Barwa, for the chance to be in the car again this weekend – we definitely proved our pace and we deserved at least one podium. We had a lot of bad luck but we showed we’re as quick as anyone out there.”Unsure whether he would be back in the Addax Team car for this weekend’s third race meeting of 2011 on budget grounds, Dean grasped the continued opportunity with both hands and was among the front-running group throughout the event – displaying tremendous pace in all sessions.Now, Dean has the unenviable task of once again searching for a drive for the next two rounds of the 2011 GP3 Series at his home track, Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit. As it stands, this weekend’s races in Valencia could have been his last in GP3 if he’s not able to secure a seat for Silverstone.“It’s Silverstone next in a couple of weeks and I’d love to be out there but, as it looks at the minute, we won’t be due to the funds”, he added, “If we can’t be there with Addax, hopefully there might be one or two other seats available. We’ve got the pace to succeed, we just need the opportunity.”Smith as quick as anyone throughout Valencia weekend...During the first practice on Friday, 24th June, Dean ran at the sharp end but midway through he was a passenger as his car left the track at full-speed at turn two – the result of an ECU overload which caused the throttle to stick open. In session two though, he bounced back superbly with the fourth quickest time, just 0.182 seconds shy of the outright pace.On Saturday, the 2009 Formula Renault UK Champion improved yet further and produced the best qualifying performance of his GP3 career to date with the second fastest time – a lap of 1m58.857 seconds (164.133 km/h) seeing him miss out on pole position by just 0.164 seconds.Starting round five from the front-row, Dean got away from the line better than pole-sitter Lewis Williamson but had to settle for second behind fast-starting Adrian Quaife-Hobbs through the first turn. Soon after, the Safety Car was deployed due to some opening lap incidents but at the re-start Dean held position well, on course for his second podium in as many events.Comfortably running in second place, the Addax racer had the result in the bag but at the end of the final lap unbelievable misfortune struck when his car went into ‘Safety Mode’ due to problems with fuel pressure and he was only able to crawl to the chequered flag in fifth place. Sunday morning’s sixth round began well for Dean, getting away nicely from fourth on the grid and taking third with a very well judged piece of overtaking midway through the opening lap. Pulling away and catching second placed Valtteri Bottas, Dean got to within just 0.3 seconds of the Finn but the latter’s defence on lap five baulked the Briton which cost him two positions.Regrouping and fighting back strongly, Dean was again baulked in a multi-car scrap on lap nine and slipped to sixth but he quickly moved back to fifth on lap 10 at the final corner with a good pass on Addax team-mate Gabby Chaves. He also set third fastest lap on the penultimate tour.Then came the drive-through penalty after officials deemed Dean to have been speeding when yellow flags were deployed earlier in the race – an annoying and very frustrating development, especially considering he did as he should and backed off his lap times when others around him didn’t. Taking the penalty on the last lap, he dropped to 11th place in the final classification.Rounds seven and eight of the GP3 Series will take place at Silverstone a fortnight from now, 9th/10th July, as support to the FIA Formula One World Championship’s British Grand Prix. Between now and then, the West Midlander will be working harder than ever to secure a drive for his home event.Provisional 2011 GP3 Series Driver Standings (after Rd6):1st Mitch Evans, 26pts; =7th Dean Smith, Adrian Quaife-Hobbs, Lewis Williamson, 11pts