Jonathan Kennard's persistence has finally paid off with his first visit to the British F3 National podium at Knockhill, Scotland today.  Nineteen year-old Jonathan from Tunbridge Wells had taken three fourth positions before today but the coveted podium had eluded him. Jonathan wasn't happy with his results from qualifying after encountering “stupid amounts of traffic” in the first session and then having the wrong car set-up for session two putting him on the grid 5th and 6th in class (19th overall) for both races.

Race one resulted in a sixth place and 13th overall after driving another intelligent race to stay out of trouble in the wet.  “It was tough,” said Jonathan. “I got boxed in at the start and then was held up badly by a back marker from the championship class.”  Jonathan made a great start for race two and following a problem for Josh Fisher on the grid was up to fourth place. His pace was strong and he was battling with Salvador Duran for third when the pack hit oil at the hairpin. Both Duran and Kennard slid but Jonathan managed to collect the car to claim third. From there he steadily pulled ahead and was catching Barton Mawer by the time he crossed the line to claim his first F3 podium.

“I'm very pleased with third, I was on the pace all weekend, I was only one tenth of a second off the quickest national class car and had I qualified higher could well have been second. I really feel as though we're getting there with the car and more importantly me.”

Jonathan now has only a week before the next two rounds, at the ultra-fast Thruxton circuit in Hampshire.  “I've only done half a day's testing at Thruxton and don't know the circuit at all although I know the team has got a good set-up there and I normally go well in high speed corners. Many of the others will have been there before but still I'm going there aiming for a pair of podiums and to be challenging for the lead.”

Results of Race 1 (25 Laps)
1. Charlie Hollings Lola-Dome F106/4 Mugen Honda 23:45.225
2. Salvador Duran Dallara F304 Mugen-Honda  23:47.638
3. Josh Fisher Dallara F304 Mugen-Honda  23:49.964
4. Barton Mawer Dallara F304 Mugen-Honda  23:00.277
5. Juho Annala Dallara F304 Mugen Honda  23:05.698
6. JONATHAN KENNARD Dallara F304 Mugen Honda 23:12.296

Fastest lap: Duran 54.665  85.52 mph (137.63 kph) 

Results of Race 2 (25 Laps)
1. Charlie Hollings  Lola-Dome F106/4 Mugen Honda  20:39.241
2. Barton Mawer  Dallara F304 Mugen-Honda  20:42.244
3. JONATHAN KENNARD Dallara F304 Mugen Honda  20:44.681
4. Juho Annala  Dallara F304 Mugen Honda  20:47.252
5. Salvador Duran  Dallara F304 Mugen-Honda  20:18.606
6. Nick Jones   Dallara F304 Mugen-Honda  20:36.932

Fastest lap: Mawer 48.406 96.57 mph (155.42 kph)

Championship points after six races
1. Barton Mawer  90
2. Salvador Duran  79
3. Josh Fisher  64
4. Charlie Hollings  59
5. Juha Annala  54
6. JONATHAN KENNARD 48
7. Nick Jones  28
8. Ricardo Teixeira  19
9. Suk Sandher  10
10.Cheong Lou Meng 10

Editor's note: The new Jonathan Kennard website is now up-and-running and copyright free images and information can be downloaded from there or obtained from the details below.

Further media information:
Cathy Metcalfe, MPR Associates
Tel: +44 (0)1327 352199
Fax: +44 (0) 1327 352908
Mob: +44 (0) 7802 332398
E-mail: cathymetcalfe@mpr-associates.co.uk
www.jonathankennard.com