2008 Lloyds TSB Insurance British Formula F3 Championship National Class

Thruxton Trials for Welsh Racers

(left) Andy still on top in the National Class Welsh Formula 3 racers Andy Meyrick & Hywel Lloyd had a mixed bag of fortunes on the challenging twists & turns of the high speed Hampshire circuit. With its usual 2 race format Andy, who is leading the National Class, took pole for Race 1 but only got in one flying lap in practice session 2 to leaving him well down. Hywel meanwhile was having another disappointing qualifying, finishing the 1^st session next to last, but within .5 of a second of 4 other National Class cars. However even after trimming the gap to .3 of a second he was the 3^rd slowest in Q2, but only because of Andy Meyricks’ problems. In race one Andy got away to a good start but spent much of the race concentrating to winning the National class and although his main rival Jay Bridger closed up and made some attempts at passing, Andy was in charge throughout. Hywel meanwhile had a quiet race but picked up a couple of places late on to finish 5^th in class, right on the tail of Krisjian Einar.

In Race 2 Andy was able to move up the order to finish 3^rd in class, right behind his main title rival Jay Bridger, and the class winner Steven Guerrero, picking up the extra point to minimise the damage. Meanwhile Hywel’s weekend came to an early end at the chicane "Einar tried to go side by side but hit me and ripped my back wheel off! It was a bit disappointing as we were chipping away the times and I felt we could have been competitive in the closing stages. However it looks like to rest of the season is going to be tough as I don’t know the tracks, so 5^th may be as closest as I get the podium for a while"

Andy however was more upbeat "Second Qualifying was disappointing, Thruxton is difficult because you don’t get much testing mileage, so it was nice to get a win under the belt, but we should have won both races. But for the 3 dnfs I’d be 60 points up but we know we have a good car and I feel very confident about the rest of the season."

The next races in the series are on the Grand Prix ciruit at Brands Hatch on 13th July

Current Points. British Formula 3 Championship National Class after 12 rounds

1^st Andrew Meyrick 174 pts, 2^nd Jay Bridger 165 pts,  3^rd Hywel Lloyd 105 pts, 4^th Steven Guerrero 104 points