Jonathan Kennard has won the 2004 Visma Software Formula Audi Championship at Spa-Francorchamps this afternoon; his sixth place gives him an unbeatable 224 points with still one round remaining. The 19 year-old who started from pole position, dropped to third off the line, slotting in behind a fast starting Rob Jenkinson and Alexander Turumin as the cars entered Eau Rouge.

As the leading trio pulled away, Jonathan struggled with the loss of fourth gear, and dropped back into the clutches of Sam Edwards and Stuart Prior until they found a way past before the completion of lap one. With Jenkinson, the only other driver to have a mathematical chance of taking the title out in front, it looked like the battle would go down to the wire, in tomorrow's final race. But as the race neared the end, Jenkinson suddenly slowed thinking the race was over, allowing Edwards and Turumin through and relegating Jenkinson to third.

Behind them, Jonathan ran a lonely sixth behind Loic Deman and Mark Johnston to take a valuable 13 points and the championship title. With a 26 point lead and a maximum 24 points available in tomorrow's race, Jonathan adds his name to the list of winners of the series that helped launched Justin Wilson's career.

"Amazing, I'm very happy", said a delighted Jonathan at the finish. "I don't really think it's sunk in though! I made a mess of the start, got loads of wheelspin and then tried to go from first to fourth gear and crunched all the gears, and I lost fourth all through the race. I just tried to stay out of trouble and concentrate on scoring points and preserving the gearbox. I couldn't see what was going on ahead of me as they were too far in front so had no idea where Jenks was and that I'd won the championship until after the race ended."

The final round of the series, Round 12 will take place tomorrow at 10.50 and again will see Jonathan start from pole position. 

Further media information:    

Cathy Metcalfe
MPR Associates
tel: +44 (0)1327 352199
fax: +44 (0)1327 352908
gsm: +44 (0)7802 332398
e-mail: cathymetcalfe@mpr-associates.co.uk