First win for Button

The 19-year-old, driving the Renault UK-supported Promatecme Dallara, held off a massive challenge from Brazilian Burti and, when the pre-season title favourite retired with engine problems, he was home free to win.

Button made the best start from the outside of the front row, sweeping around the outside of pole position man Andrew Kirkaldy's Stewart Racing Dallara-Mugen Honda.

Kirkaldy made a big effort to get by Button in the early laps, but had to concede second place to Stewart team mate Burti on the run to the chicane on the third tour.

Burti then latched onto Button's gearbox, making sure he was always positioned to challenge on the flat-out run-up to the chicane. His chance came on lap eight. Burti jinked to the outside of Button and exhibited brilliant car control to take the lead, but his engine almost stopped in the middle of the chicane, allowing Button back ahead.

Burti tried to close the gap again, but on the 11th lap his car slowed with terminal engine problems. Kirkaldy, who had been delayed while his team mate recovered, was left to fend off championship leader Marc Hynes's Manor Motorsport Dallara-Mugen in the battle for second.

"It was great!" grinned Button after winning in F3 at his third attempt. "When I was out in the lead it was an excellent feeling and I concentrated on bringing the car home in one piece. We were only seventh in testing, so to win is a very good achievement."

The unlucky Burti said: "When I tried to pass Button I heard some strange noises. I passed him, but when I tried to get off the corner the engine nearly died."

Kirkaldy remarked: "Luciano was trailing water around. That gave Jenson a gap and that was that. Once he pulled out of the way Jenson was already gone."

Hynes was delighted with a podium finish on a circuit at which Manor has never raced an F3 car. Third place kept him to keep 10 points ahead of new series runner-up Button. "I'll settle for third and more free champagne," he joked.

Fortec Motorsport recovered from a pair of dismal qualifying sessions to take fourth and fifth places. Fourth kept Kristian Kolby in the hunt for the title, while fifth was a good drive from 12th on the grid for rookie team mate Matt Davies.

Competing in his first race of the season, Malaysian Alex Yoong did well to finish sixth in his Alan Docking Racing Dallara, ahead of National Class dominator Martin O'Connell.


1 Jenson Button Promatecme 23:42.508

2 Andrew Kirkaldy PSR 3:44.369

3 Marc Hynes Manor 23:44.808

4 Kristian Kolby Fortec 23:51.052

5 Matthew Davies Fortec 23:53.041

6 Alex Yoong ADR 23:53.960

7 Martin O'Connell Rowan Racing 23:54.354

8 Michael Bentwood Carlin 23:55.860

9 Aluizio Coelho Promatecme 23:58.745

10 Tim Spouge SS Racing 23:59.110

11 Toby Scheckter Speedsport 24:07.224

12 Jeremy Smith J. Smith Racing 24:29.720

13 Warren Carway Rowan Racing 24:39.360

14 John Bender DNF

15 Doug Bell DNF

16 Luciano Burti DNF

17 Tor Sriachavanon DNF