Alguersuari controls first race

Jaime Alguersuari closed Oliver Turvey's championship lead to three points with victory in the first race of this weekend's British Formula 3 season finale at Donington Park.

The Spaniard maintained his lead from pole position over teammate Brendon Hartley and controlled the half hour race from the front. The pair cruised away from the chasing pack to contest the victory between themselves.

Hartley pushed hard in the early laps, but his charge looked to be broken after he locked up and lost over a second at the Esses on lap 13. That was until they caught a train of five backmarkers with four laps to go and Hartley was right back on the leader's tail.

But Alguersuari soaked up the pressure to record his fourth win of the season and put himself in position to seal the title later this afternoon.

Turvey led the chasing group in third, holding a safe margin over Dean Smith, Sam Abay and Nick Tandy for the duration of the race.

Behind them, Atte Mustonen held off Marcus Ericsson for seventh and Henry Surtees fought off a late charge from Jay Bridger to secure the National Class victory on his F3 debut.

Pos Driver Team Car Gap 1. Jaime Alguersuari Carlin D/M 30:03.648 2. Brendon Hartley Carlin D/M +0.813 3. Oliver Turvey Carlin D/M +7.544 4. Dean Smith Fortec D/M +9.439 5. Sam Abay Carlin D/M +9.859 6. Nick Tandy JTR M/M +10.610 7. Atte Mustonen Double R D/M +20.509 8. Marcus Ericsson Fortec D/M +21.147 9. Henry Surtees Carlin (N) D/H +33.340 10. Jay Bridger Fluid (N) D/H +33.495 11. Henry Arundel Double R D/M +34.524 12. John Martin Double R D/M +36.083 13. Oliver Oakes Eurotek D/M +36.499 14. Adriano Buzaid Carlin (N) D/H +37.353 15. Stefan Wilson Fluid (N) D/H +50.254 16. Clemente Faria Jr Cesario D/H +1 lap 17. Steven Guerrero T-Sport (N) D/H +1 lap 18. Hywel Lloyd CF (N) D/H +1 lap 19. Callum MacLeod T-Sport (N) D/H +1 lap 20. Philip Major Fortec D/M +1 lap 21. Max Chilton Hitech D/M +2 laps 22. Jonathan Legris Litespeed (N) S/H +6 laps Not classified Sergio Perez T-Sport D/H 20 laps Walter Grubmuller Hitech D/M 1 lap Fastest lap, Alguersuari 1:01.375 on lap 11 D/M = Dallara Mercedes, M/M = Mygale Mercedes, D/H = Dallara Mugen-Honda, S/H = SLC Mugen-Honda

Penalties give Alguersuari pole

Wheldon steps out of car, onto field