British F3: Hoggard Wins Race 3 after Mistake for Simmons

Johnathan Hoggard took the flag in the final BRDC British F3 Championship race of the weekend, making it three winners from three races at Oulton Park.

The Fortec Motorsports driver started behind his race one rivals; Ayrton Simmons and Clement Novalak, but after the two made a mistake at Hislops, while battling for the lead, Hoggard quickly took the opportunity, sliding past both to inherit the lead.

A repeat top three as race 1 ensures the podium finishers will be considered the main focus for the championship in 2019.

From pole, Simmons made a striking start, pulling quickly away from the chasing pack. This gap didn’t last long though, with Novalak and Hoggard soon closing back up.

Simmons fluctuated the gap slightly, but on lap 7 Novalak went for the move, forcing Simmons to the inside of Hislops. The British F4 runner-up couldn’t brake in time, running over the chicane and forcing the Carlin driver to take avoiding action when he rejoined. As a result, Hoggard slid through, taking the lead, with Simmons rejoining in second.

Hoggard soon set about building up a lead, recording the fastest lap and holding a comfortable gap over his former F4 rival.

Kiern Jewiss had caught the lead battle after their off-track escursions, though failed to really pressure Novalak, settling for fourth at the flag, ahead of a lonely Neil Verhagen.

Sixth would go to Ulysse de Pauw after a solid first F3 weekend for the Belgian.

The battle for seventh was eventually won by Sasakorn Chaimongkol. After getting stuck behind Mason in race two, the Thai driver spent race three finding a way past Manuel Maldonado, which he did only on the penultimate lap. Completing the top ten would be Lucas Petersson and Benjamin Pedersen after an iconic race-long battle.

Further bad luck had hampered Hampus, as Ericsson failed to make the green flag lap. He wasn’t the only unlucky driver though, with Kaylen Frederick being shuffled onto the grass by Kiern Jewiss at Old Hall on the opening lap, dropping him to the back.