Derani holds Serralles at bay in reversed-grid Brands F3 race

Brazilian Derani defended from everything Puerto Rican Serralles could throw at him as the Fortec Motorsport Dallara-Mercedes duo took a one-two for the Daventry-based team.

Poleman Fahmi Ilyas held on in front for four laps in his Double R Racing Dallara-Mercedes, before understeering into the gravel at Paddock Hill Bend.

From then on, Derani had to concentrate on managing Serralles, who was much quicker through Clearways and Paddock Hill Bend, but could not brake late enough into Druids hairpin as the track was slippery off-line after overnight rain.

"In the end he wasn't that quick enough to make a move unless I made a mistake," said Derani. "I held on under pressure the whole race and it was good to do that without any errors."

Derani's compatriot Pietro Fantin hovered around a second behind Serralles to take his customary reversed-grid podium in his Carlin Dallara-Volkswagen, with team-mate Carlos Sainz Jr not far in arrears.

Ilyas clambered back onto the track just in front of fellow Malaysian Jazeman Jaafar, and a chain reaction of braking caught out Harry Tincknell. That caused damage to the Devonian's car, but he rejoined after a pitstop to easily set fastest lap - although both he and Fantin were under investigation for track-limit offences.

Jaafar, after wriggling his way through from 10th to sixth on lap one, could not find a way past Ilyas despite some big efforts, but extended his series lead as main rival and Carlin team-mate Jack Harvey could only manage ninth.

Adderly Fong took his second National Class victory of the weekend in his CF Racing Dallara, and was not too far behind front-row starter Geoff Uhrhane (Double R) at the finish.

Results - 15 laps:

Pos  Driver                Team/Car                   Time/Gap
 1.  Pipo Derani           Fortec Dallara-Merc      20m12.024s
 2.  Felix Serralles       Fortec Dallara-Merc        + 0.122s
 3.  Pietro Fantin         Carlin Dallara-VW          + 1.555s
 4.  Carlos Sainz Jr       Carlin Dallara-VW          + 3.990s
 5.  Fahmi Ilyas           Double R Dallara-Merc     + 19.036s
 6.  Jazeman Jaafar        Carlin Dallara-VW         + 19.663s
 7.  Nick McBride          T-Sport Dallara-Nissan    + 20.157s
 8.  Alex Lynn             Fortec Dallara-Merc       + 20.929s
 9.  Jack Harvey           Carlin Dallara-VW         + 21.522s
10   Hannes van Asseldonk  Fortec Dallara-Merc       + 22.071s
11.  Geoff Uhrhane         Double R Dallara-Mugen    + 26.433s
12.  Adderly Fong          CF Dallara-Mugen*         + 27.462s
13.  Spike Goddard         T-Sport Dallara-Mugen*    + 38.103s
14   Duvashen Padayachee   Double R Dallara-Mugen*   + 38.590s
15.  Harry Tincknell       Carlin Dallara-VW           + 1 lap

* National Class