Mollekens on top at Donington

Belgium's Kurt Mollekens became the fifth different winner of the season
as he stroked to a comfortable victory in the eighth round at Donington
Park on June 23. The 23-year-old from Bonheiden started from the second
row of the grid and took advantage when pole-sitter Brian Smith, from
Argentina, stalled at the start.

It was a demoralising mistake by TOM'S driver Smith, who had hoped to
become the first non-Dallara driver to win an F3 race in Britain since
1993. Even though he got away dead last, Smith drove a scintillating
race and would have finished seventh had he not dropped back on the
penultimate lap to avoid a rival's spinning car. Twelfth place was his
fruitless reward.

Championship leader Ralph Firman started alongside Smith on the front
row but was unable to prevent Mollekens from getting past at the start.
He made a concerted effort to get on terms with the Belgian in the
middle stages of the 18-lap race, but Mollekens was able to respond.
Mollekens crossed the line three seconds ahead of Firman, who extended
his series lead over fellow Briton Guy Smith to 31 points.

Third place fell to the Renault-powered Dallara of Frenchman Nicolas
Minassian, ahead of Guy Smith. Championship frontrunners Juan Pablo
Montoya - a winner at Donington in May - and Jamie Davies both hit
trouble, the former suffering electrical problems and the latter
dropping out of the points after a minor collision with a rival.
Montoya's only consolation was one point for setting fastest lap.

Mollekens said: 'I've been waiting four years for this win. I've been
qualifying well all season, and I was sure it would only be a matter of
time before I won. My car was perfect in the race, and when I found
myself in the lead I just kept my head down and made sure I made no
mistakes.'

Next round of the championship is the British Grand Prix-supporting race
at Silverstone on July 13.

ROUND EIGHT RESULTS
1 Kurt Mollekens (Dallara-Mugen); 2 Ralph Firman (Dallara-Mugen);
3 Nicolas Minassian (Dallara-Renault); 4 Guy Smith (Dallara-Mitsubishi);
5 Brian Cunningham (Dallara-Mugen); 6 Darren Manning (Dallara-Mugen).
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