British F3, qualifying: Watts on top
Danny Watts pulled off two impressive pole laps in qualifying for the Castle Combe rounds of the British F3 Championship on Saturday. The Fortec driver just couldn't break the minute barrier, however, posting a fastest lap of 1m0.022s in the second session. Adam Carroll and Robert Dahlgren played 'swapsies' in second and third places, with Carroll alongside Watts for Race One
The Hitech driver's performance was all the more memorable for his lack of running early on, due to an engine problem. His pole time in the first session was posted within just 12 laps - a quarter of the running completed by the opposition.
Championship leader Alan van de Merwe struggled to get to grips with the track near Bristol, but qualified just 0.1s off the lead in fourth, as the sun beat down and the going got slower. The gap widened to just under 0.4s in the second session allowing Rob Austin onto the second row for Race Two.
It could have been even worse for the wily South African, Van de Merwe. He was nowhere for most of the second session, but dug deep in the closing minutes to bump up the order.
It was worse, however, for Castle Combe first-timers Nelson Piquet Jr and Jamie Green. Green, who is currently second in the championship, trailed Piquet (third overall), who struggled with set-up problems, at the bottom of the top ten in both sessions.
Danny Watts Hitech Racing Dallara Renault 1m0.291s
Adam Carroll Sweeney Racing Lola-Dome Open 1m0.350s
Robert Dahlgren Fortec Motorsport Dallara Renault 1m0.375s
Alan van der Merwe Carlin Motorsort Dallara Mugen Honda 1m0.390s
Richard Antinucci Carlin Motorsport Dallara Mugen Honda 1m0.454s
Rob Austin Menu Motorsport Dallara Opel 1m0.532s
Will Power Diamond Dallara Mugen Honda 1m0.591s
Ronnie Bremer Carlin Motorsport Dallara Mugen Honda 1m0.596s
Nelson Piquet Jr Piquet Sports Dallara Mugen Honda 1m0.690s
Jamie Green Carlin Motorsport Dallara Mugen Honda 1m0.742s
Danny Watts Hitech Racing Dallara Renault 1m0.022s
Robert Dahlgren Fortec Motorsport Dallara Renault 1m0.229s
Adam Carroll Sweeney Racing Lola-Dome Open 1m0.301s
Rob Austin Menu Motorsport Dallara Opel 1m0.346s
Alan van der Merwe Carlin Motorsort Dallara Mugen Honda 1m0.376s
Ronnie Bremer Carlin Motorsport Dallara Mugen Honda 1m0.395s
Clivio Piccione Manor Motorsports Dallara Mugen Honda 1m0.438s
Richard Antinucci Carlin Motorsport Dallara Mugen Honda 1m0.439s
Nelson Piquet Jr Piquet Sports Dallara Mugen Honda 1m0.441s
Will Power Diamond Dallara Mugen Honda 1m0.729s
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