Hitech misses out on possible victory

Hitech Racing missed out on a possible victory in the second race of the Cooper Tires British F3 season opener at Oulton Park after Gabriel Dias was forced out while dicing for the lead.

Gabriel had started the race from pole thanks to the reverse grid rules brought in for the 2010 campaign, but was slow away from the line after suffering a broken handbrake – which affected his ability to make a perfect getaway.

It allowed fellow front-row starter Daisuke Nakajima to take the lead, with the Japanese driver forcing Gabriel onto the grass as he attempted to reclaim top spot. Dias then got a run on his rival into Old Hallon lap two and tried to go round the outside, but was tipped into a spin that dropped him to the rear of the field. He would set a number of quick laps before retiring on lap six.

“My handbrake broke on the grid so I got wheelspin when the lights went out and dropped to second place,” he said. “I tried to get past Nakajima exiting turn one and he pushed me wide to the grass and then he was being defensive every time I tried to make a move. I got a run on him into the first corner and went for the outside line and he pushed me wide onto the grass and I spun. I was lapping quickly after that but we decided to pull into the pits to save tyres for the final race.”

Team-mate Will Buller started the race from tenth on the grid but suffered wheelspin on the damp circuit as he attempted to make up places at the start.

The MSA Team UK driver then found himself stuck at the back of a train of cars and took the chequered flag in ninth place, with the damp circuit making overtaking even more difficult than normal. 

“We knew it would be difficult after qualifying and I went into the race knowing I’d be satisfied with some points,” he said. “I got some wheelspin off the line and was on the wet side of the circuit, and then found myself running at the back of a train of cars. Oulton Park is probably the most difficult circuit to overtake and if you wanted to try and pass someone, it meant going onto the wet line. That could have meant risking my own race, so I was satisfied to finish ninth and pick up some points. Our true pace is strong and I’m confident for the final race.”