GB3

Randle Holds off Pressure to Win Reverse Grid Race

1 Mins read

Thomas Randle won his first British F3 race of the year in a red flag interrupted event, in which a large incident for Enzo Bortoleto saw the red flag brought out and the medical team called.

The first lap was marred by a spectacular incident in which Bortoleto launched off the back of Faisal Al Zubair. The Brazilian proceeded to barrel roll two times, nose first. It was immediately red flagged as he was slowly extracted from his machine.

The car was written off, but many breathed a sigh of relief as Bortoleto cautiously walked away into the ambulance. The original grid positions were reinstated and the field prepared for a second restart.

An excellent start by Ameya Vaidyanathan saw him take the lead from second on the grid at the first attempt, but it wouldn’t last long as Enaam Ahmed quickly took the advantage going into Yentwood. The cars looked like they were funneling out until the Bortoleto incident.

The second restart once again saw polesitter Tarun Reddy go backwards as he and Vaidyanathan pincered Enaam Ahmed, causing the Douglas Motorsport driver to lose his front wing. He quickly dropped down the order as team mate Randle inherited the lead.

Ahmed pitted coming out in front of Randle, letting him and second place Vaidyanathan through. Behind the top two, Lando Norris was on the move as he took fourth place off the fast starting Aleksanteri Huovinen.

The Double R Racing cars were clearly in trouble as third place Matheus Leist was caught by Norris, and just a lap after he’d disposed of his team, Leist was too demoted to fourth. With free track, Norris took the advantage to set the fastest lap, securing him pole for the final race of the weekend.

Back at the front, Vaidyanathan was closing the gap on Randle as Ahmed put up little fight to Norris, letting him lap the struggling Douglas car. Randle was quick to respond, ensuring the gap grew to a second over the chasing Carlin duo.

The final lap saw some excitement behind as Ricky Collard desperately tried to force Reddy into a mistake, but the polesitter held on to take six overall with Collard finishing only one place above championship rival; Toby Sowery. This left Randle to cross the line victorious with Vaidyanathan and Norris seperated by under a second.

Credit: Nick Smith / TheImageTeam.com
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