This weekend at Rockingham Motor Speedway near Corby the final curtain call will take
place for the 2007 Lloyds TSB Insurance British F3 International Series with plenty of entertaining race action in prospect in the first races for the series at the Northamptonshire venue since 2003.
Hitech Racing’s Marko Asmer arrives at Rockingham as the new Lloyds TSB Insurance British F3 International Series Champion after scoring his tenth win of the season at Croft three last time out. The Estonian now joins a unique club of drivers who have won this prestigious title including Ayrton Senna, Nelson Piquet, Jackie Stewart and Mika Hakkinen to name but a few.
With no championship title up for spectators can expect an action packed finale on a brand new circuit that has been noted for its overtaking opportunities.
While Asmer has been the dominant force this year but he certainly hasn’t had everything his own way with seven other drivers winning races in 2007. Germany’s Maro Engel, in his second season of British F3, was the main rival to Asmer with wins at Oulton Park and Monza. Further podiums at Silverstone, Thruxton and Spa underlined the young German’s speed but his challenge for the 2007 title ended up in the gravel trap at Croft after a clash with Snetterton race winner Niall Breen.
Leicester ’s Stephen Jelley finally stepped onto the top step of the podium at Thruxton after three years of trying. He liked the view so much he decided to do it again at Croft after Marko Asmer’s Mercedes engine let go. With Jelley targeting a move to GP2 a win at Rockingham would be a fitting end to his four year British F3 career.
Sam Bird from Surrey is the top rookie in this year’s series. The Formula Renault graduate has taken wins on the streets of Bucharest and at Spa and seven further podiums have made Bird one of the star finds of the 2007 season. Mechanical woes dented his overall title hopes but a second place at Croft put him back where he belonged.
Sergio Perez also secured the National Class title at Croft after a season long battle with China’s ‘Frankie’ Cheng. The 17-year-old Mexican sealed the title with his 12th win of the year for himself and his Brackley based T-Sport team.
With the title decided ‘Frankie’ is on A1GP duty for Team China this weekend but don’t expect this fact to give Perez a free ride here at Rockingham. Bahrain’s Hamad Al Fardan looks set to secure third place in the championship after scoring eight podiums in the last eleven race starts, moving him 17 points clear of Banbury’s Michael Meadows.
The 2007 season has seen large grids, with twenty-eight of the best drivers across the globe compete in the season finale at Rockingham. Like all entertainers the drivers are all looking to end the season on a high note by providing plenty of entertaining on track action and a fitting curtain call to a great season.
If you missed any of the incidents today remember you can always catch it again on TV, with Channel 4 showing at 8am on the 7th October with repeats during the week and Motors TV beginning their comprehensive run from 13th October at 15:00.
A full TV schedule can be found on the series website at www.britishf3international.com