Visiting Dutch driver Renger van der Zande enjoyed a dream debut in the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series today at Silverstone, leading the championship's third round all the way from lights to chequered flag to score a resounding victory for the Hitech Racing team.
The 23-year-old, whose Hitech drive was confirmed a matter of hours before the meeting, displayed immense confidence on a circuit he had never before raced to claim the team's first victory since its championship-winning season in 2007. It was also the first win of 2009 for engine supplier Mercedes.
"I only did 29 laps of free practice," said Renger. "But I managed to set a good time in qualifying. The car was very good, the team did a great job, and that helped me a lot. It was decided at the start really; I made a good start and drove away. But the race wasn't easy because of the wind, which blew me off the track one time. After that I took things a little easier. I think this is a good entry to the championship and I'm happy with it. I'm not sure about the rest of year yet, for sure I would like to come back and do more races."
Pole-sitter Max Chilton pursued van der Zande all the way to the end, rarely more than half a second behind in his Carlin Dallara, and was left to rue the Dutchman's better grid getaway: "I got a good start," said the 18-year-old Brit, "as good as everyone around me apart from Renger. He absolutely launched it and gave me no chance of blocking him from getting past. During the race I wasn't taking any risks because of the wind out there. You didn't know what it was going to do next..."
Brazilian Adriano Buzaid slotted into third in his T-Sport car and stayed well in touch with van der Zande and Chilton until a minor mistake mid-distance cost him time. He recovered to stay ahead of Riki Christodoulou to take his maiden British F3 podium.
Christo' drove a storming race from fifth on the grid, the Midlander and his Fortec Dallara overhauling Daisuke Nakajima on the third lap to move into fourth. He might have inflicted more grief on Buzaid but for the need to watch his mirrors as championship leader Daniel Ricciardo - who started a lowly 11th after a qualifying off - loomed large in them from the third lap onwards.
Though Nakajima fell victim both to Christo and Ricciardo, he had the pace to stay ahead of Walter Grubmuller for sixth, with Nick Tandy battling through to eighth in his JTR Mygale from 15th on the grid. Henry Arundel and Carlos Huertas rounded out the top 10.
In the National Class, Fortec's Daniel McKenzie outgunned T-Sport driver Gabriel Dias at the start to lead the division for a couple of laps until handling problems prevented him from resisting the Brazilian's attentions. For Dias, who broke his back in a crash last season, class victory was sweet: "Daniel got past me through the first corner but I managed to get him back. The race was difficult but races will always be so; it was a good result."
