Lehdistötiedotteet - It's Like "The Ashes"... But Not Remotely

It's Like "The Ashes"... But Not Remotely

Throughout history, Britain have found themselves embroiled in a few friendly rivalries among the world of sport. This season has been all about Australia! F2 Oceanic promised an out-and-out British dogfight for Season 17 as then UK#1 Driver Rubik Beardy and current UK#1 Driver Jackson Storm lined up together to have a crack at Australia's most prestigious open wheeled title, and neither driver has disappointed!

Current Championship leader Storm, who is tipped for huge success in the future, holds a slender 19 point lead over Beardy, who has one more win and one less podium than his younger countryman in the series, with just three races remaining! In fact, the pair of them have taken fifteen of seventeen wins between them (seven and eight respectively), with one win a piece escaping them and being taken by Miller and Valetohter. This title run could go either way, and only the brave would put their money on either driver to take the crown, the consolation being they are both guaranteed 2nd at the very least, with Miller in third a further 126 points behind.

Britains National A1 Junior driver Jay Wellington hasn't been shy about racking up a few notable performances himself! Entering the series, the 21 year old was staying modest, shooting for 10th in the drivers standings and projecting an average 8th - 12th per race, the youngster has yet to finish a race lower than 10th, aside from two non-finishes. But consistency aside, Jay has out-performed the expectations of many, including his manager, with an F2 career high 4th place at the prestigious Bathurst circuit, and three other 5th place finishes of note! But all hope of climbing higher than 10th seems to have fallen away with Wellington dropping from a crucial 6th place ahead of his three immediate challengers (the Australian trio of Killington, Steegs and Cayayan in the recent race at Phillip Island, to 10th once again, and losing ground to the trio which now seems insurmountable, albeit only a slight points gap, as the four drivers have been locked in a season long battle for lower points hauls.

F3 Oceanic is no different with 24 year old Marcus Ripley currently leading a tight three way battle for the crown over Zasr and Marcheselli. Despite taking fewer wins than both of his title rivals, Ripley finds himself at the fore-front in the points standings leading into the final few rounds!

Elsewhere, A1 Junior Ricky Higham has shot on to the MRC radar! Signing up to the notorious Indy Jr USA series was a huge gamble for any 21 year old, but one podium and SEVEN Top 5 finishes later, Higham can boast nothing short of a miraculous season! If he can retain his 5th place in the title chase it'll be a serious benchmark for any youngster looking toward the mid-higher series jump!

And back home in sunny, but mostly overcast Britain, the home-grown F3 Title has been (as expected) a one man affair as superstar veteran Jonas Gudas has taken fourteen of sixteen wins! (A win rate of 87.5%!!). But what would you expect of an ex-F1, double Formula E World Champion! You almost feel sorry for David Lawley and Sebastian Helm who are a staggering 296 points adrift of the 32 year old! Otherwise they'd be duking it out for the title, a tantalising prospect being separated by a mere 7 points going in to Sundays race!

It hasn't been the most prolific season for Nationals from the British, but this "off season" was predicted several seasons ago as a lull in "coming of age" seniors and "playing the long game" juniors has seen them slump to an all time low 14th in the National Standings, several places behind their fierce rivals across the pond in the USA!

All in all a bittersweet season for the Isles, but a few drivers titles to boast and a wealth of junior drivers to get behind should hopefully prove more prosperous in Season 18 and beyond!