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Sergio Perez took
his 4th win of the season, and his first podium finish since
Monza, after getting a great start in Round 14 at Brands Hatch.
The Mexican was under pressure from Marcus Ericsson for the entire race
but the Swede made a mistake two corners from home, spinning off into the
barriers and promoting Atte Mustonen and Oliver Turvey to the final podium
places. In the National Class it was a 1-2 for T Sport as Steven
Guerrero scored his second win leading home teammate Salman Al Khalifa, with
Jay Bridger in 3rd.
Twenty seven cars
lined up on the grid for Round 14, including the Ultimate Mygale of Alistair
Jackson, the Ulsterman being given the all clear by the medics after his
heavy accident in Round 13. At the start it was Ericsson who led the field
away but it was second placed Perez who got an even better getaway to get
alongside the Swedish driver into Paddock Hill and sweep into the lead.
Oliver Turvey also got the drop on his Carlin teammate Jaime Alguersuari to
slot into 4th behind Atte Mustonen at the first corner. John Martin
stalled on the grid and once he had fired the Mercedes engine into life he
set off in last place.
Perez had
Ericsson Fortec Dallara filling his rear view mirrors as they crossed the
line for the first time, followed by Mustonen, Turvey, Alguersuari, Hartley
and Tandy.
As the
laps counted down the leading pair continued to circulate with just 0.3
seconds separating them as they pulled away from third
placed Mustonen who was having the fend off the attentions of Turvey.
On lap 8 Martin
O'Connell in the #56 Carlin Motorsport Dallara came into the pits to change a
rear tyre after he went off at Clearways. O'Connells second Formula 3
race since 2001 ended a few laps later. Alistair Jackson also retired
after he pulled into the pits.
On lap 15
Ericsson started to line Perez up for a pass but the Mexican defended well
causing the Swede to lose ground for the rest of the lap. Brendon
Hartley was another casualty when his Carlin Dallara pulled off at Graham Hill
Bend.
As the race
entered the final Marcus Ericsson was still right behind the leading T Sport
Dallara but it looked as if he would have to settle for second place
after Perez had soaked up all the pressure Ericsson could throw at
him. However it was Ericsson who cracked and two corners from the
Fortec Dallara went straight on and into the barriers. Perez crossed
the line in first place, three seconds ahead of Atte Mustonen, with Oliver
Turvey claiming his second podium of the weekend.
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