8:43pm Saturday 1st May 2010
By Andrew Simpson
OLIVER Webb continued his fine start to the season as the Cooper Tires British F3 International series entered its second round at Silverstone on Saturday.
The Knutsford teenager chased race winner James Calado from lights to flag to score his third runners-up finish from three races in his debut campaign.
"It was a very close race,” he said afterwards.
“In many ways there was a bit of déjà vu from last year when I raced against James in Formula Renault UK. We both had great fun.
“I had a few goes but unfortunately I couldn't find a way past.”
Calado (Carlin Motorsport) turned history maker as he became the first driver to take the chequered flag on the venue’s new Arena GP circuit, which opened on Thursday.
It marked too his maiden British F3 win; the fourth in succession for Carlin and Volkswagen this season.
Webb was just over a second adrift at the line.
“The new circuit is good and definitely promotes overtaking,” said the 19-year-old.
“It was good for us to race on it first and good for the spectators too."
Calado made a fine start from his first pole position, keeping Fortec driver Webb behind him on the opening lap.
The Pershore man established a new outright lap record on the second lap before lowering it again three circuits later, but still could not shake his determined pursuer.
A small error mid-race allowed Webb to narrow the gap to four tenths of a second, although he was never close enough to pass.
Double victor at Oulton Park in the first round last month, Jean-Eric Vergne was unable to find his way past Raikkonen Robertson racer Daisuke Nakajima.
The Japanese made an excellent start from sixth on the grid to slot into third on the first lap, leaving the Frenchman to settle for fourth.
His championship lead over Webb is cut to 12 points as a result.
Sunday’s 20-minutes sprint race will see Calado start from eighth on the grid with Gabriel Dias (Hitech) on pole, just as he was at Oulton Park.
Cooper Tires British F3 International series
Round Two: Race One
Silverstone (Arena GP circuit)
1. James Calado GBR (Carlin Motorsport) 27:01.234
2. Oliver Webb GBR (Fortec Motorsport) 27:02.249
3. Daisuke Nakajima JAP (Raikkonen Robertson) 27:03.377
Drivers’ standings (after four races)
1. Jean-Eric Vergne FRA (Carlin Motorsport) 60pts
2. Oliver Webb GBR (Fortec Motorsport) 48
3. Rupert Svendsson-Cook (Carlin Motorsport) 32
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