Perez wins hard fought second race

Sergio Perez soaked up intense race-long pressure from Marcus Ericsson to earn his fourth British Formula 3 victory of the season at Brands Hatch this afternoon.

Perez started behind Ericsson on the front row, but made the better getaway and swept into the lead at Paddock Hill Bend. He had to work hard to keep the lead, though, with Ericsson rarely more than four tenths of a second behind him for 28 of the 30 minutes.

Ericsson looked quicker, but couldn't get close enough to make a lunge and Perez never made the mistake he would have required to take the lead. Growing in frustration, Ericsson tried harder and harder to defy the understeer that comes with following another car closely, but his efforts were in vain as he spun off at Sheene Curve on the final lap.

That promoted Atte Mustonen to second and Oliver Turvey to third, both scoring their second podiums of the day. Jaime Alguersuari could only manage fourth, which ties him and Perez at the head of the championship standings.

Nick Tandy was fifth, ahead of Sebastian Hohenthal and Sam Abay who salvaged strong points finishes after disappointing races this morning. Hitech pairing Walter Grubmuller and Max Chilton sandwiched Michael Devaney to round out the top ten.

Steven Guerrero took another National Class victory with a comfortable gap over his nearest rival, T-Sport teammate Salman Al-Khalifa.

Pos Driver Team Car Time 1. Sergio Perez T-Sport D/H 29:11.269 2. Atte Mustonen Double R D/M +3.371 3. Oliver Turvey Carlin D/M +3.763 4. Jaime Alguersuari Carlin D/M +4.586 5. Nick Tandy JTR M/M +11.890 6. Sebastian Hohenthal Fortec D/M +19.516 7. Sam Abay Carlin D/M +19.971 8. Walter Grubmuller Hitech D/M +23.284 9. Michael Devaney Ultimate M/M +24.469 10. Max Chilton Hitech D/M +27.257 11. Henry Arundel Double R D/M +27.664 12. Steven Guerrero T-Sport (N) D/H +41.980 13. Philip Major Fortec D/M +42.381 14. Salman Al-Khalifa T-Sport (N) D/H +56.678 15. Jay Bridger Fluid (N) D/H +57.321 16. Viktor Jensen Nexa D/H +57.773 17. Stefan Wilson Fluid (N) D/H +1:02.331 18. John Martin Double R D/M +1:03.079 19. Jonathan Legris Litespeed (N) S/H +1:09.998 20. Hywel Lloyd CF (N) D/H +1:10.804 21. Jordan Williams Loctite (N) D/H +1:14.649 22. Kristjan Einar Carlin (N) D/H +1 lap Retirements Marcus Ericsson Fortec D/M 21 laps Ricardo Teixeira Ultimate M/M 17 laps Brendon Hartley Carlin D/M 16 laps Martin O'Connell Carlin (N) D/H 11 laps Alistair Jackson Ultimate M/M 9 laps Fastest lap, Ericsson 1:18.761 on lap 12 D/H = Dallara Mugen-Honda, D/M = Dallara Mercedes, M/M = Mygale Mercedes, S/H = SLC Mugen-Honda

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