Jonathan Kennard had to settle for second place in today's round 8 of the Visma Software Formula Palmer Audi races at the famous Nürburgring circuit in Germany after a race-long battle with Rob Jenkinson. The 19 year-old, who started from pole position got the jump on fellow front-row man Jenkinson to lead into the first corner but was forced to give way on the last corner of the first lap, as his tyres failed to reach optimum temperature.

Lap after lap the Aedas-backed driver looked at a way of getting past, trying round the outside several times throughout the 10-lap race, which has been recorded as the closest ever FPA race. Some consolation for Jonathan was that for the second time this weekend, his fastest lap was some half a second quicker than the opposition.

"I'm very pleased with my pace throughout the weekend," said Jonathan. "But I'm disappointed that I wasn't able to convert my two pole positions into race wins, although fastest lap in both races in some consolation. I made a great start to take the immediate lead and held him off for most of the opening lap, but at the last corner, I don't think my tyres were quite up to temperature and I had a bit of understeer going into the last corner which allowed him through. It was close though, very close, and I tried everything I could to get him, even going round the outside at the chicane and the hairpin."

"But this is a difficult track to overtake on and it's very easy to defend on. I took some calculated risks but I certainly wasn't going to risk a dive up the inside and lose a front wing."

Jonathan's second place ensures he maintains the championship lead going into the next double-header event, which takes place in six weeks time on Silverstone's Grand Prix circuit on August 14/15.

Fastest Lap: Jonathan Kennard 1:58.764 96.76mph

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Cathy Metcalfe
MPR Associates
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