James Rossiter finished third and sixth in the weekend’s latest two British Formula Three rounds at Donington Park. The two results mean he remains one of three drivers to have broken clear at the head of the championship as the season moves into its second half.
James drove through from 12th on the starting grid to cross the line fourth in the first race, held in wet conditions on Saturday. However, a penalty for championship leader Nelson Piquet Junior for careless driving elevated James to third.
In the second race, held yesterday on a dry track, James started seventh but finished sixth after coming out on top of a furious battle with Adam Carroll, who jointly leads the series with Piquet.
“These are strong results that have kept me right up there,” said Celerant/BRDC-backed James. “It will be very important to continue this momentum in the next couple of meetings at least as the season is reaching a critical stage.
“We have some testing planned between now and the next two rounds and I am confident we can find more improvements in the car. I also intend raising my game. I think we should be in very strong shape when we return to action at Oulton Park.”
James’ first race at Donington saw him make eight places on a wet but drying track surface to cross the line fourth – which became third following Piquet’s penalty. In the second race, he needed to produce one of his finest performances of the season so far, in terms of race craft, to come out ahead of Carroll and Danny Watts for sixth position.
“Both were very tough races, but very enjoyable,” said James, who drives for the Fortec Motorsport team. He added: “In the second race, we were three abreast at one point and needed to keep an eye on both mirrors to keep them check. There was no way they were coming past, though!”
James will return to British Formula Three action in rounds 15 and 16 of the championship at Oulton Park, Cheshire on 17-18 July.
The weekend before, however, he will have attended the British Formula One Grand Prix at his home circuit of Silverstone as a guest of circuit owner the British Racing Drivers’ Club which is one of his backers. It was at Silverstone earlier this season that James achieved his first British F3 race win before adding to it with another victory at Knockhill, Scotland in May.
British Formula Three Points (after 14 of 24 rounds): =1st, Adam Carroll (GBR) & Nelson Piquet Junior (BRA), 142 points; 3, James Rossiter (GBR), 128; 4, Clivio Piccione (MON), 111 etc.
