British F3: Webb plans to step up title bid (From Northwich Guardian)
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Knutsford driver Oliver Webb feeling confident as British F3 heads abroad
12:15pm Friday 21st May 2010 in Motorsport
Knutsford's Oliver Webb, 19, hopes to impress on his debut at French circuit Magny-Cours this weekend. Picture: Tim Williams (Excel-R8.co.uk)
KNUTSFORD ace Oli Webb is not worried about racing at a new circuit as the Cooper Tires British F3 International Series heads to Europe.
The teenager is targeting a first race win after finishing second in four of the six races to date but he has never driven at the next venue; France’s Magny-Cours circuit.
Not a problem, according to the Fortec Motorsport man.
“I think it’s quite similar to Silverstone in terms of driving style,” he said this week.
“So I’m sure we can work around that as to how I should approach the races.”
Series leader Jean-Eric Vergne, 12 points better off then Webb at the top of the early drivers’ standings, will be tough to beat on a track he knows well.
Webb added: “Obviously Vergne has home advantage, but all I’m thinking is that if we can beat him there then that will really strengthen our attack on the championship.”
Carlin Motorsport’s Vergne, along with teammate Adriano Buzaid, is the only driver to have scored points in every race to date.
Webb did not finish race two at Silverstone last time out.
He will be watching out for Daisuke Nakajima (Raikkonen Robertson Racing) this weekend too after the Japanese twice made the podium in Northamptonshire.
“Four second places in my first six races is an excellent start to the season for a rookie,” added Webb.
“I am disappointed by the DNF in the reverse grid race because without that I could have been leading the championship.
“That said I have a very solid platform to build on.”
This weekend marks the first stage of a three-stops European tour for the series, which heads to Hockenheim in Germany and Holland’s Zandvoort next.
Cooper Tires British F3 International series
Drivers’ standings (after six races)
1. Jean-Eric Vergne FRA (Carlin Motorsport) 76pts
2. Oliver Webb GBR (Fortec Motorsport) 64
3. James Calado GBR (Carlin Motorsport) 51
4. Adriano Buzaid BRA (Carlin Motorsport) 49
5. Daisuke Nakajima JAP (Raikkonen Robertson Racing) 40
6. Rupert Svendsson-Cook GBR (Carlin Motorsport) 34
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