ROCKINGHAM 3 SEPTEMBER 2011: Brazilian Pietro Fantin claimed his first-ever British F3 pole positions at Rockingham this morning, the Hitech Racing driver displaying dominant form at the Northamptonshire speedway in official qualifying for the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series.

Fantin will start this afternoon’s 22nd round and also Sunday’s Round 24 from top spot thanks to a pair of impressive sub 1m 12s laps of the 1.94-mile track. Fantin’s overall best was 1m 11.794s, more than three-tenths inside last year’s pole time and two-tenths clear of the best his countryman Felipe Nasr, the championship leader, could achieve. Fantin followed that up with a 1m 11.855s lap, again two-tenths better than Nasr’s second-best time. Nasr’s Carlin team-mate Kevin Magnussen will start from third on the grid today and tomorrow.

“I didn’t imagine that it was going to be pole,” said Fantin. “I knew that we were quick from testing yesterday but the car was mega and we found a brilliant set-up, I also know what needs to be done at this track and felt confident in every corner. I’m really satisfied with the team’s performance so it feels good to be starting on the front row. I hope that I can maintain this pace until the end of the weekend.”

Yesterday’s testing pacesetter Jazeman Jaafar set the fourth-quickest time overall, ahead of his Carlin colleagues Jack Harvey, Rupert Svendsen-Cook and Carlos Huertas. Harry Tincknell was eighth fastest and the leading Mercedes-powered runner, edging his Fortec team-mate Will Buller by a tenth. A creditable effort by Sino Vision Racing’s Hywel Lloyd brought the Welshman 10th spot.

In the Rookie class, Japan’s Kotaro Sakurai brought more satisfaction for Hitech, beating his new class rival, Team West-Tec’s Luca Orlandi to the class pole by more than a second.

British Formula 3 enjoys the headlining support of Cooper Tires and is additionally backed by Sunoco Racing Fuels, Anglo American Oil Company and OAMPS.

 

Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series

Provisional qualifying times, Rockingham / 3/9/2011

 

Championship class

1  Pietro FANTIN / BRA,  Hitech Dallara-Volkswagen  1m 11.794s

2  Felipe NASR / BRA,  Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen  1m 11.974s

3  Kevin MAGNUSSEN / DEN,  Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen  1m 12.078s

4  Jazeman JAAFAR / MAS,  Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen  1m 12.173s

5  Jack HARVEY / GBR,  Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen  1m 12.204s

6  Rupert SVENDSEN-COOK / GBR,  Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen  1m 12.224s

7  Carlos HUERTAS / COL,  Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen  1m 12.391s

8  Harry TINCKNELL / GBR,  Fortec Dallara-Mercedes  1m 12.473s

9  William BULLER /GBR,  Fortec Dallara-Mercedes  1m 12.523s

10  Hywel LLOYD / GBR,  Sino Vision Dallara-Mercedes  1m 12.758s etc

 

Rookie class

1  Kotaro SAKURAI / JPN,  Hitech Dallara-Mugen Honda  1m 14.803s

2  Luca ORLANDI / ITA,  Team West-Tec Dallara-Mugen Honda  1m 16.256s

 

Full timesheets http://bit.ly/q3seNy

Article Written By Nick Carter on 3rd Sep 2011