James Rossiter finished in fifth and third positions at Oulton Park, Cheshire to remain one of the three favourites for this year’s British Formula Three title as the championship enters its final third.
James, in his first season of F3, has moved to within seven points of second-placed Adam Carroll. Nelson Piquet Junior, who won both Oulton races, is 29 points further ahead.
“This another very good points haul and keeps us right in the hunt,” said BRDC/Celerant-backed James. “Sure, Piquet has built quite a big gap, but it doesn’t concern me at all. If he can gain that much in one weekend then I can pull it back at the next.
“There are still eight races left and we’re heading to circuits, particularly Silverstone Grand Prix and Thruxton, where I know my team is very strong and we expect to challenge for victories. I think we have a great chance of winning this championship.”
Both qualifying sessions at Oulton were held on a damp but drying track. On his first visit to Oulton’s full-length circuit, James qualified fifth fastest in both sessions for his team, Fortec Motorsport.
In the first race he maintained his position to the chequered flag, but in the second gained two positions to finish third – his eighth podium result in 16 races. He made one place at the start and another half way around the first lap when a rival, Clivio Piccione, spun out in front of him. From there, he pressured second-placed Brazilian Lucas Di Grassi all the way the finish.
“Piccione almost collected me but I just managed to miss him – it was close,” said James. “My best lap was two tenths of a second quicker than Di Grassi’s, but he defended well. Of course I wanted second, but I was not about to take a crazy risk. It’s the first time I’ve raced around here so to come away with these points I think is a very good effort, particularly from the team who worked extremely hard over the weekend.”
James is next in British F3 action at his home circuit of Silverstone – scene of his first victory the championship back in May – on 13-14-15 August. Before that, however, he will compete in one of F3’s annual ‘blue riband’ events, the Marlboro Masters at Zandvoort, Holland on 6-7-8 August.
British F3 Points (after 16 of 24 rounds): Nelson Piquet Junior (BRA), 184 points; 2, Adam Carroll (GBR), 155; 3, James Rossiter (GBR), 148, etc.
