STUNNING KENNARD ON FORM AT MONZA

British racing star Jonathan Kennard showed fantastic fighting form in both races of the British Formula Three Championship at Monza, collecting two fifth places despite enduring a series of set-backs throughout the race weekend.

In free practice Jono lost a number of laps due to an oil leak and subsequently lost vital practice time to tweak the set up of his Dallara Mercedes.  This had a knock on affect to his performance in the first qualifying session and he would line up a disappointing eighth on the grid.

In the second qualifying session Jonathan shot to the top of the time sheets early on in the session, but after only a few timed laps, he had complete brake failure at 165 mph and dramatically shot down the escape road at the first chicane, thereby avoiding any damage to the car. Jono managed to bring the car back to the pits but subsequently dropped down to tenth on the grid as other cars went faster in the later half of the session.

Kennard showed incredible patience and excellent racecraft in both races as in race one he fought his way up to fourth place. He did however make a small mistake at the first chicane which let Asmer back through and he finished fifth, fourteen seconds ahead of sixth placed man, Guerrieri. It was this quality of driving which also allowed him to make a fighting comeback in race two.

After a good start, he was caught up in the first corner melee that so often characterises the first laps of any race at Monza. Jonathan had to take avoiding action of a spun car and thus dropped down to eighteenth position. He stayed calm and began to fight his way through the field overtaking cars at either the first chicane, Ascari chicane or the Parabolica on almost every lap of the race.

‘It was fantastic racing throughout the race,' commented Jono. ‘I just made sure I didn't get tangled up with anyone but also took some calculated risks - I don't think I have ever overtaken so many cars so quickly!'. Before long Jonathan was up to sixth position and catching the battle for fourth between Breen and Hohenthal. Jonathan managed to dive past the Swedish driver on the penultimate lap at the Parabolica but despite closing up to Breen at the end, ran out of laps to take fourth position.

‘After the disastrous first lap, I was concerned I would not even make it up to the top ten, so to fight up to fifth from eighteenth was fantastic', said Jonathan. ‘I have moved up a position in the championship and now head to my local circuit, Brands Hatch, where I hope to perform well in front of my home crowd on July 15th'.